tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69100672024-03-19T04:48:25.902-04:00BLOG TO COMMYeah, it can get tiresome. Come back later.Christopher Stiglianohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17107248034597839482noreply@blogger.comBlogger2139125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6910067.post-47763202539904410042024-03-12T06:59:00.008-04:002024-03-18T08:41:53.496-04:00<div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>A RATHER </b><u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">BOLD</u> <b>EDITION OF "SINGLES GOING STROONAD" (a.k.a. I can't seem to figure out why the entire post ended up this way even after hours of hard scrutiny, and yes I checked all of the <b></b>'s and other settings but still came up total goose eggs)</b></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br />
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<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA5jJLvrlajRhFYkc8rLLfdU5UW9Kufv6h2K4QWU3S-Ga92YZl24NIFFJYMkG77FswbmE6crDLEjxxYq-ucBalVz8O-6t0lK7-qbo96aGic7Zg8NX3afFKFKgUHcbe7dWZ4m7pK9UoUhN5ECe3rpNEJo2AMo1eM3N0sbHqhKKPiOzTl82c8rQ5Hw/s1082/Raver.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1082" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA5jJLvrlajRhFYkc8rLLfdU5UW9Kufv6h2K4QWU3S-Ga92YZl24NIFFJYMkG77FswbmE6crDLEjxxYq-ucBalVz8O-6t0lK7-qbo96aGic7Zg8NX3afFKFKgUHcbe7dWZ4m7pK9UoUhN5ECe3rpNEJo2AMo1eM3N0sbHqhKKPiOzTl82c8rQ5Hw/w200-h198/Raver.jpg" width="200" /></a></b>
</div>
<b>The Troggs-"The Raver"/"You" (Page One Records)</b>
<p></p>
<p>
<b>Along with "Come Now" and "Feels Like a Woman", this Troggs track proves just
how well attuned to the late-sixties/early-seventies high end of AM hot pop
(or FM freeform if there were enough well-attuned program directors) they
undoubtedly were. The grinding melody and twanging Jew's harp adds all the
right tone colors and spice just <i>needed</i> to help beef up these
Troggs sides even more, and it is too bad that the suburban bell bottom hippie
wannabe market wasn't as attuned as it shoulda been or else this
mighta've been a hit. Sheesh, the Kinks crawled onto the charts with "Lola"
just around the same time so why not the Troggs? Flip is a standard bouncy pop
effort not unlike quite a few other numbers to be found in these guys'
catalog, nothing that I would call startling but still a testament to the
eternal tuned-in-ness of the Troggs.</b>
</p>
<blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOKLPuGsNyYzQ_f1jPDl6T5Fp0XlvC2WW4mGr5_AwRueGuTDK2g0XkK-0ZGrOiXeHs4p4kLRggDWkloT7xKGFgjJQ2WEZGNsOb6zxpv3oHelkojNBKWs4yCZTswc9RL1cJEfRPRAmJXPvXjfuclbmCrW8l-nLFs4b3V-0xOKA6y4hyphenhyphendCKoKGQ90Q/s1082/Open%20Up%20and%20Bleed.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1082" data-original-width="1080" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOKLPuGsNyYzQ_f1jPDl6T5Fp0XlvC2WW4mGr5_AwRueGuTDK2g0XkK-0ZGrOiXeHs4p4kLRggDWkloT7xKGFgjJQ2WEZGNsOb6zxpv3oHelkojNBKWs4yCZTswc9RL1cJEfRPRAmJXPvXjfuclbmCrW8l-nLFs4b3V-0xOKA6y4hyphenhyphendCKoKGQ90Q/w199-h200/Open%20Up%20and%20Bleed.jpg" width="199" /></a></div>The Stooges-"Open Up and Bleed" (no label bootleg)</b> <div><br /></div><div><b>You already <i>know</i>... The Whisky-A-Go-Go version of the famed Stooges aural attack in all its lo-fi glory split between two green vinyl sides. The
first being the creepy crawl beginning with Scott Thurston's harmonica weaving
in and out of a beautiful repeato riff owing a whole lot to the early Velvet
Underground (pardon my French) filtered through Alice Cooper at the height of
his prowess. The second being the raging "LA Blues"-styled climax complete
with feedback galore and a glitzed-out audience that probably didn't know (or
care) what was goin' on. A perfect part of the late-sixties/early-seventies
cataclysm in rock which gave us peons a good slice of sonic liberation that
boldly stood against all of that peace 'n love hucksterism which unfortunately
seemed to take the entire world by storm.</b></div><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<p><b></b></p>
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<b></b></a><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiISMkNDHJ3RVi86nVRtO5dnPCPfrUR587LuDkc-LoYhj_JXDkCeRTKKkMTszHOs8QxTG2J70PmVdV3aOSsPZeINiTbJzGA8Hl5IJy5nGm0TWOvCYJ6kIXQQUqXgttBKrvKvO-LElivpfTWfrLgYCwD0bsCLLQjs2WqZyb2Ii_pH53cEuYs3Uh5sA/s1080/Misfits.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1077" data-original-width="1080" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiISMkNDHJ3RVi86nVRtO5dnPCPfrUR587LuDkc-LoYhj_JXDkCeRTKKkMTszHOs8QxTG2J70PmVdV3aOSsPZeINiTbJzGA8Hl5IJy5nGm0TWOvCYJ6kIXQQUqXgttBKrvKvO-LElivpfTWfrLgYCwD0bsCLLQjs2WqZyb2Ii_pH53cEuYs3Uh5sA/w200-h199/Misfits.jpg" width="200" /></a></b>
</div>
The Misfits-"Cough/Cool"/"She" (Blank Records reissue [obviously counterfeit]
for jerkoffs like me who were too stupid to get it the first time)<div><b style="text-align: left;"><br /></b></div><div><b style="text-align: left;">This ain't your daddy's Misfits. More like your <i>grand</i>daddy's Misfits from way back in the days when they were a trio playing a driving electric
piano dominated music that was sound quite different from the hardcore
overdrive these guys made their fazoola with. The presence of this particular
keyboard (or as the credits say, "electric sync piano") presents a nice throb
of a pulse that recalls Suicide while overall the bunch seem to be hovering
closer to the "progressive punk rock" style as exemplified by the likes of TV
Toy and perhaps a few other NYC area acts that I'm sure never got 'round to issuing
anything. Nothing to be afraid of in case you're cautious of what others may
think. Of course more from this particular period in time would be welcome.
<blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<p><b></b></p>
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</div>
<b>The Fun Things-"Where the Birdmen Fly", "Lipstick"/"(I Ain't Got) Time Enough
For You", "Savage" 33 rpm 7-inch EP) (no label)</b>
<p></p>
<p>
Dunno who put this mofo together but it sure is a fine reminder as to why
Australia was the last hope during a time when high energy scions of rock and
roll cataclysms past like ourselves were losing hope in a sea of MTV and the
dinge of feelygood myopia. "Where the Birdmen Flew" is homage to Australian
rock practitioners past taking the initial thrust and multiplying it in ways
even the originators never could fathom, while "Lipstick" is more kineticism
taken to the extreme where it ricochets just like that bullet in Andy Warhol's
ribcage. "Time Enough For You" is Rocket From the Tombs' "What Love Is"
emulated and flipped over a few times. Closing out this reish's "Savage" which
makes the case for the inclusion of Narcan with every purchase of this
platter. When God wipes out Australia for its crimes he will
spare this 'un.
</p>
<blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<p><b></b></p>
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</div>
<b>JOHN MENDELSOHN'S THE PITS EP (Bomp Records)</b>
<p></p>
<p>
It's a given. If you liked Sparks and Christopher Milk as well as Earle
Mankey's "Mau Mau" single you're just
<b><i><u>bound</u></i></b>
to go whole hog for this slab of El Lay rock 'n preen. You already know that
Mendelsohn was not only a member if the original Sparks but Christopher Milk,
and besides that he was (is?) a rockscribe of some renown...heck he's the guy
who coined the phrase "garage band" which should earn him all the brownie
points in the world even if I never cared for the stuff he used to write for
<b>CREEM</b> back inna eighties.
</p>
<p>
The Pits weren't anything that was going to shake the music industry to its
rotten core but they had that El Lay take on the English rock pulse down flat.
The so-called "disco" influence is miniscule at best (more mid-seventies bump
'n grind than late-seventies Travolta cheese) so I wouldn't be so
self-conscious about listening to this if I were you. I'll bet this would have
been a hit at Rodney's English Disco had that teenbo hangout stayed around long enough.</p>
<blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote><p>
</p>
<p><b></b></p>
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</div>
<b>The Nurses-"Love You Again"/"I Will Follow You" (Teen-A-Toons Productions)</b>
<p></p>
<p>
Howard Wuelfing never was what I'd call one of my favorite of the 3rd string
rockscribes (he was up there!), but he sure did more than his share for
<u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">THE</u><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"> </span>cause! Not
only with his writings for various publications both fan and pro but with a
number of musical endeavors, his tenure with 1/2 Japanese sticking out foremost in my mind.
The Nurses well --- not up there with the Japanese but they're still nice
enough in that late-seventies new pop that was springing up all over the
fruity plain sorta way. It doesn't have that hard gnarl one would have
expected after reading Wuelfing's various writings re. everything and everyone
from Can to Einsturzende Neubauten but sometimes things like that get in the
way of my critical thinking. A good enough cramitintoyourskull distillation of
that hard pop music that used to sound so revolutionary given that the times
they were made in were so staid.</p>
<p><b></b></p><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
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</div>
<b>Bobby Fuller Four-"I Fought the Law"/"Love's Made a Fool of You" (Eric
Records)</b>
<p></p>
A too obvious choice for a singles going stroonad session but still pertinent to
my everyday sorta being. A somewhat rare release on the Eric label, this is the
big 'un from a guy who decided to take on the infamous Morris Levy, a man who
had the magical power to make Fuller beat himself up and swallow gasoline, and as you woulda guessed Morris Levy won. A
double-sided classic that might not mean too much to most of us, but fortysome
years ago this really would have been as prized in my collection as all those
scratched singles that harkened back to a past that woulda been one to remember had I only been front and center for what was happening.
<blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<div>
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</div>
The Bell Notes-"I've Had It"/"Be Mine" (Time Records)</b>
</div>
<div>
<b><br /></b>
</div>
<div>
These guys, along with the Fendermen, the Tune Rockers, the Royal Teens and a
few other choices out there really<i>really<b><u>REALLY</u> </b></i>should have been on that early garage band sampler I reviewed last year.
Yeah, the Bell Notes produced what some might call slightly "gingerbread-y"
local rock, but at least it had a good bounce to it undoubtedly done up by the
kinda guys who used to mime their music on <b>BANDSTAND</b> while
cleaner cut than you'd expect teenbos sat trying to avoid staring into the
camera. Speaking of the Bell Notes, I remember reading how none other than
Miriam Linna's own eye doctor was in the group which had me wonderin' whether
or not a Bell Notes exclusive was gonna pop up in the next issue of
<b>KICKS</b>. None ever did, making me think that perhaps Miriam asked about
doing an interview right when doc was doing the pressure test, and he was so
startled by the question that the thing done dear rammed right into her socket
gouging the dang eyeball out!
</div>
<blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<div>
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</div>
Rockin' Robin With The Wailers-"Rosalie"/"Interview on Bandstand with the
Fabulous Wailers" (Eticant Records)</b>
</div>
<div>
<b><br /></b>
</div>
<div>
A side's the Wailers with Rockin' Robin Roberts doing a 1961 studio version of
the <b>LIVE AT THE CASTLE</b> rouser while the flip's got the audio
portion of Dick Clark's post-song chat with the Wailers on
<b>AMERICAN BANDSTAND</b> back when "Tall Cool One" was rising up the
charts a good two years earlier. Quality's AM car radio good enough for me,
and for a guy who spent a good portion of the early-eighties trying to get
just about any shard of info on these guys this is a godsend I sure wish came
out a whole lot sooner!
</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>
A good encapsulation of high energy rock 'n roll from a time when it was being
presented on radio and television just as often as Rinso ads. Too bad this (and a ten-inch Wailers collection of
mid-sixties demos) hadda've been put out by a couple of chiselers who not only
released this material without the express permission of Etiquette Records but
swindled me out of money I paid to have an ad printed in an issue of the duo's
<b>DO THE POP! </b>fanzine, a mag that naturally never saw the light of day.
(Sure I'm petty, but I'm also poorer as well. Hey, why do you
<i>really</i> think I wrote this 'un up in the first place?)
</div>
<blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<div>
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</div>
Chuck Berry-"Little Queenie"/"Almost Grown" (Chess Records)</b>
</div>
<div>
<b><br /></b>
</div>
<div>
I suppose I should hate Chuck Berry if only because a whole slew of scrawny
wire-rimmed white yammer-ons love him, but I won't stoop to any of their more
pious than thou levels falling into their outdated white snivel trap. However,
I gotta say that the overdrool regarding the man from the likes of such
critics as Richard Reigel really does tend to turn me off of the guy given how
these more "mainstream" scribes tend to elevate the man to godhood status, something which is kinda strange given Berry's various bathroom antics and state line crossings. But we gotta
separate the man from the music I guess, and I'll try to do my best as usual.
</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>
To a fanabla of my musical caste "Little Queenie" is supposed to be the record
that Marc Bolan swiped the closing line to "Get It On" from (see following
review) but it's naturally more'n just that. A fairly good blast of
late-fifties rock 'n roll so void of the usual traps that I find it extremely
hard to think that such a one-dimensional jerkoff of a character such as Potsy
Webber from <b>HAPPY DAYS</b> could have ever liked Berry as he was
alleged to do in that episode where Richie has to man the store and forgo the
rock 'n roll concert. Ditto for "Almost Grown" even if for the life of me the
Ruben and the Jets version seems to overtake my mind.
</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>
Maybe Berry was singing for the kids instead of to 'em, but from what I heard
about those parties of his where he'd corral some young teen things into his
motel room and the shit would literally be flying...boy would I hate to have
been a maid at one of those Quality Courts!
</div>
<blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<div>
<b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAnIcCEKw2clpCs9Q-6-HP2B6xpSJY9-TORaNfeFPbYENJUR0tT-Vxj8vsoEojwT7sYdtKU-tPJ4fxYo8ICIWkJzsZU-EfohJtD9wsgD8uxcmepyryw3eFpya06fZMYM8keJJtTAoMLso9traYU2LRT2ToVqcFkszHU-mLdZKeFmHTSK_WxYstrw/s200/Bang%20a%20Gong.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="195" data-original-width="200" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAnIcCEKw2clpCs9Q-6-HP2B6xpSJY9-TORaNfeFPbYENJUR0tT-Vxj8vsoEojwT7sYdtKU-tPJ4fxYo8ICIWkJzsZU-EfohJtD9wsgD8uxcmepyryw3eFpya06fZMYM8keJJtTAoMLso9traYU2LRT2ToVqcFkszHU-mLdZKeFmHTSK_WxYstrw/w200-h195/Bang%20a%20Gong.jpg" width="200" /></a>
</div>
T. Rex-"Get It On (Bang a Gong)"/"Raw Ramp" (EMI/Odeon Records, Japan)</b>
</div>
<div>
<b><br /></b>
</div>
<div>
And speaking of "Little Queenie" well, I wouldn't exactly call this 'un a
ripoff as Nick Kent once surmised. But it's an all-time classic and the song
that got me listening to the radio serious-like 'stead of half-heartedly. I
went on and on about the glory days of T. Rex and how they affected me in the
very last issue of my <a href="https://black2com.blogspot.com/2023/02/what-do-all-these-creatures-have-in.html">crudzine</a> so no need to get into it here, but for a surprise the flipster "Raw
Ramp" which is
<u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">not</u> on
<b>ELECTRIC WARRIOR</b> pops up and it's a beaut what with the line about
"love your breasts" and all. Bound to get the twelve-year-old in you rushing
to the bathroom! Sheesh had I heard this way back when I probably woulda done
some spontaneous spurting that surely woulda gotten me kicked outta grade
school. I mean, trying to control myself in sex ed was bad enough...
</div>
<blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiL65nww3ay3ONxppf8-EkTbd3wg1KKo6-RNodvMBa1YdNFKHkmIWoNlkQbHKfsUOHvYU4uOpTF1XjORxO3q3R2B16uad8tnLTSDwP1fvHtYjLIJXxecu4e2vHyIRaLYD_sn-n00a1v10Wsq1-JpUb_Zy0ONpC4dyy9GBoLocVFEJgj5BuZRfSMHw" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="196" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiL65nww3ay3ONxppf8-EkTbd3wg1KKo6-RNodvMBa1YdNFKHkmIWoNlkQbHKfsUOHvYU4uOpTF1XjORxO3q3R2B16uad8tnLTSDwP1fvHtYjLIJXxecu4e2vHyIRaLYD_sn-n00a1v10Wsq1-JpUb_Zy0ONpC4dyy9GBoLocVFEJgj5BuZRfSMHw=w196-h200" width="196" /></a>
</div>
<b>David Bowie-"Space Oddity"/"Wild Eyed Boy From Freecloud" (RCA or Mercury
if you got yours at a flea market like I did)</b>
</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>
Yeah, I know..."where were you back in '72, was David Bowie the man for
you"??? Maybe I'd take those lyrics a li'l more seriously if none other'n
Metal Mike Saunders himself wasn't pumping up the Bowie bandwagon via his
heavy metallic praise of the former Mr. Jones in the pages of <b>PHONOGRAPH RECORD MAGAZINE</b>. But eh, I believe we all have the right to change our minds, unless we
don't have the right that is and according to many of you maybe I don't!
</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>
As for me, back when I was a mere adlo and the music of Bowie was first being
played on the radio I sure thought his tuneage was the coolest thing to hit
the airwaves since the previous Stones single or T. Rex for that matter. Of
course when we all discovered just what a creepazoid
Bowie <i>really</i> was (and I'm not talking about his weird
personal lifestyle or open marriage with Mick Jagger either) maybe those old
singles <i style="font-weight: bold;">didn't</i> sound as good as we
remembered 'em.
</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>
Nowadays with a good 50 years of hindquarters hindsight behind us all I can
say is yeah, I guess records like "Oddity" were about as good an encapsulation
of the anti-hippoid ideal and sway just as much as the works of other Third
Generation spokesmen such as Alice Cooper and of course Bolan. And with rock 'n'
roll as a potent force and generator of excitement long washed under the
bridge to so speak maybe we can't afford to be as picky about it as we once
were in 1979 <i>ifyaknowaddamean...</i><br />
</div>
<div><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote></div><div>
</div>
<div>
<b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div>
Downliners Sect-"Cadillac"/"Roll Over Beethoven (Penniman Records,
France)</b>
</div>
<div>
<b><br /></b>
</div>
<div>
Recorded mid-'63, this even out-primitives <b>AT NIGHT IN GT. NEWPORT ST. (</b>which you gotta admit was a pretty Cro Magnon platter in itself), so you can
just imagine the pounce and teenage earnestness this effort exudes! Actually
this slice of Downliners Sect does have the sort of garage primal push that's
made more'n a few of their efforts all the more merrier (or punkier if you so
desire), and I guess everyone who's been in on the Sect ever since their
original albums began getting the fanzine huzzahs in the early-seventies already has this already so why blab any further?
</div>
<blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<div>
<b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9mEL7kHTQbEBH4slsGGyIssnRIB42A3CTvutZrqbhajvdXnU0vXInYqv9gnT5ujvWTV-AARUaof96DvkECcdSS5nf1rFfbvfv4VQ4wtmBD09rWONjkrRL0jEn_Yw3DvmwFmJqpoaLLy-dEjlGXDEK9TrjezOiAcvJLvb1aV93JnHC_dtSQNh9Ew/s1080/Love%20Building%20Fire.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="1080" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9mEL7kHTQbEBH4slsGGyIssnRIB42A3CTvutZrqbhajvdXnU0vXInYqv9gnT5ujvWTV-AARUaof96DvkECcdSS5nf1rFfbvfv4VQ4wtmBD09rWONjkrRL0jEn_Yw3DvmwFmJqpoaLLy-dEjlGXDEK9TrjezOiAcvJLvb1aV93JnHC_dtSQNh9Ew/w200-h198/Love%20Building%20Fire.jpg" width="200" /></a>
</div>
Talking Heads-"Love Goes To A Building On Fire"/"New Feeling" (Sire
Records)</b>
</div>
<div>
<b><br /></b>
</div>
<div>
Heh, Talking Heads before they started letting their artzy pretentions get the
best of 'em while appearing in horrid videos that embarrassed just about
everybody who was championing this bunch only a few years earlier. The horns
and other beef ups don't hinder the mid-seventies pop leanings in the least.
Dunno or care what you think but I woulda preferred hearing an entire album
done up like this as opposed to what we eventually did get...I mean, who
<i>wouldn't?</i>. When Greg Shaw wrote that he believed Talking Heads would
put out a long player that was on-par with the David's
<b>ANOTHER DAY ANOTHER LIFETIME</b> I wonder if he had this
single in mind.
</div>
<blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<div>
<b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div>
The Four Deuces-"W-P-L-J"/"Here Lies My Love" (Music City Records seventies
repro)</b>
</div>
<div>
<b><br /></b>
</div>
<div>
Yeah we all know the a-side if only because of Frank Zappa's cover version as
well as the fact that a New York radio station changed their call letters to
this after the success of <b>BURNT WEENIE SANDWICH</b>. Here's the original
which naturally has that Southern California r&b feel to it that wouldn't
have sounded out of place in <b>THE WORLD'S GREATEST SINNER</b>...sheesh
whenever I hear this, for some odd reason or another I keep thinking of all
those Zappa landmark namedrops that conjure up just what a rundown hellhole
that the Southern California area musta been even then! Flip's a more
streamlined r&b track that's better on this side than that, which only
goes to show you what an ignoramus I am about these sorta soundwaves.
</div>
<blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<div>
<b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div>
TV Jones-"Eskimo Pies"/"Skimp the Pimp" (Nomad Records)</b>
</div>
<div>
<b><br /></b>
</div>
<div>
The only surviving artyfact of this pre-Radio Birdman group, unless someone discovered more and didn't tell me. Pretty good at least as far as
being an example of what Deniz Tek did before he did that other thing that he became somewhat well known for. Early version of "I 94" graces the plug side
sounding perhaps even better due to the rehearsal room quality while the other
side's got this wild raver that for all I know never made it into the Birdman
set list but it shoulda given its all 'round rousing abilities.
</div>
<blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<div>
<b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div>
Roogalator-"All Aboard"/"Cincinatti Fatback" 7-inch 33 rpm single (Stiff
Records, England)</b>
</div>
<div>
<b><br /></b>
</div>
<div>
Must be a post EMI lawsuit edition because my copy came without a <b>WITH THE BEATLES</b> ripoff cover. Whatever the case may be here's an early Stiff single
that's pretty hefty on the rootsier aspects of the pub rock experience which made up a good portion of the Stiff roster at least
during their earlier days. Sheesh, I could see a number of my elder relatives
thinking that, between the swing of "All Aboard" to the short haircuts sported
on the missing sleeve that them kids are finally straightening up and
listening to good music, at least until they get an earfulla "Cincinatti
Fatback" what with its references to poontang (which I doubt they even knew
what it meant, but who knows...). If your tastes in mid-seventies punkist
desires tended towards the whole Feelgood/Groovies breed of past
accomplishments you'll definitely like this 'un.
</div>
<div>
<blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
</div>
<div>
<b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div>
Ian Dury-"Wake Up!"/"What a Waste" (Stiff Records, Belgium)</b>
</div>
<div>
<b><br /></b>
</div>
<div>
Another Stiffie here, only this is one of those yellow vinyl offerings that
popped up in shopping malls nationwide thus making Deviants records once again
readily available to the general public. The a-side consists of Dury's big
"hit" that was being pushed on FM radio all over the fruity plain, and
although I should hate it not only for that but the fact that a faint disco
beat can be discerned it does conjure up somewhat happy memories of seventies
snazz pop and should be appreciated if only for that. The other side's even jazzier
and actually more attuned to my own sense of off-kilter music. Perhaps this is because "What a Waste" reminds me
more of the television shows and comic books I was gorging on at the time, but
once you get down to it there's nothing at all wrong with that at all. Unless
you're a sophisticated
<u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">creep</u> that is but which one of you readers isn't?</div>
<blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<div>
<b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div>
Died Pretty-LIVE DIED EP (Compassion Explosion Records bootleg)</b>
</div>
<div>
<b><br /></b>
</div>
<div>
Back to Australia and these guys who originally made a huge impression on me.
Unfortunately after a while the quality of their recordings, like many on the
Australian scene of the day, began to wane to the point where all of the
original energy the group originally exuded seemed to pretty much evaporate.
Not really an extended play as it is a 33 rpm single, the plug's got a version
of Lou Reed's "Wild Child" that is somewhat faithful to the original and is
good enough that it might have even put a smile on Peter Laughner's face. The
other side probably would have as well although it bears only slight
resemblance to the Pere Ubu original. Well, at least it does remind me of the
kind of music that was making the mid-eighties a way more livable place than
had we all hadda rely of the drek that <b>CREEM</b> was pushing on us at
the time.
</div>
<div>
<blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
</div>
<div>
<b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div>
The Exploited-"Exploited Barmy Army"/"I Believe in Anarchy", "What You Gonna
Do" EP (The Exploited Record Company)</b>
</div>
<div>
<b><br /></b>
</div>
<div>
Still dunno why it seemed oh-so-cool to dump on these guys, especially when
you consider that records like this 'un were keeping the whole Britpunk
moo'ment going on and on at a time when every upnose snoot'd go out of his way
to declare p-rock's demise. OK you gotta admit that the Exploited were way deep
with the likes of Gary Bushell and his demolishing of everything that was once
good about <b>SOUNDS</b>, but at least they knew enough to publicly call him a
"wanker" when even he jumped on the punk is dead bandwagon. Good
enough for me thud snarl that sounds exactly like the same music that seemed
so refreshing in the face of MTV moosh only to fizz out worse'n club soda once
1983 began rollin' in.
</div>
<div>
<i><br /></i>
</div>
</b></div></b></div>Christopher Stiglianohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17107248034597839482noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6910067.post-75223159084666055762024-03-04T08:01:00.002-05:002024-03-04T12:36:23.153-05:00<p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOJpNo6V2IobFIKaLtqGxz-W7O_5we_-fv1Ek-PpQe9mLR0MrEPgRr_INCLXKm2XRr6-TErbhZ0Elsa0yR6mE6Q7vLDW1jMxyfm-eXVxDx9zS7ipHmdax_p8C6Z_wY4RWbxU-6aIX-ut04XfVmkQnjBKn8NcoUioORxJEEyVHVZz7AffSY_UW4gQ/s1404/Forbidden%20Worlds%20Volume%202.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1404" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOJpNo6V2IobFIKaLtqGxz-W7O_5we_-fv1Ek-PpQe9mLR0MrEPgRr_INCLXKm2XRr6-TErbhZ0Elsa0yR6mE6Q7vLDW1jMxyfm-eXVxDx9zS7ipHmdax_p8C6Z_wY4RWbxU-6aIX-ut04XfVmkQnjBKn8NcoUioORxJEEyVHVZz7AffSY_UW4gQ/w308-h400/Forbidden%20Worlds%20Volume%202.jpg" width="308" /></a></b></span></div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>BOOK REVIEW! <i>FORBIDDEN WORLDS GIANT VOLUME 2 </i></b></span> <span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>(Gwandanaland Comics, 2022)</b></span><p></p><p>Other'n <b>HERBIE</b> I gotta admit that I know practically nil about the ACG line of comic books, and if <b>FORBIDDEN WORLDS</b> is any example of what the rest of their stable was like I dunno if I'd <i>wanna</i>. Compared to the competition the horror sagas that pop up in this title (at least judging from what's to be found here) are pretty lamesville and woulda probably passed the scrutiny of Dr. Fredric himself, at least if you plied him with a few shots. Artwork's OK enough but doesn't exactly grab you by the kajoobies (none of the big names who did work on the title, people like Al Williamson, Joe Orlando and Frank Frazetta amongst others, pop up in this volume) and I gotta say that there just are too many happy endings, at least as far as the more romantically-inclined stories go.</p><p>To be as honest as Brad Kohler about it, there are a few goodies mixed in with the turdburgers like the one where some guy gives a cold shouldered gal a love potion and she still goes for him even after he stabs her and she's rotting away (well, that 'un <b><i><u>WOULDA</u></i></b> been tops on the Wertham hit parade), or the one where the hotcha lady (of course) married to the aged dudster (natch!) has a shriveled fortune teller type of woman (aren't they <i>all?</i>) put a deadly hex on him, and the lady's handsome boyfriend (well, he <i>does </i>look better'n you!) tells her not to pay the millions the gypsy is owed and to have her killed... Betcha never saw a story like that in yer life have ya??? Still given the track record of at least the stories that pop up here this one did come out on top!</p><p>There are plenty of other Gwandanaland titles to splurge on and I think you all got the idea which ones that would be worthy of you having in your own personal library. But whatever, leave <b>FORBIDDEN WORLDS</b> outta it --- no only is the price forbidden but the stories to be found within ain't gonna do your sense of comic book appreciation one bit of good neither! </p>Christopher Stiglianohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17107248034597839482noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6910067.post-62746415241608149562024-02-16T13:36:00.005-05:002024-02-26T11:26:16.589-05:00<p>
It's been awhile. As if
<u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">you</u> cared. Neither
do I but it for those of you whose lives are so starved that you have to
wait for something like this blog to lighten up you life well, here it is. To tell
you the truth I know how some of you lonelier types feel given that the
highlight of my day is to read the various <b>NANCY </b>and<b> FERD'NAND</b> comics that pop up on various sites such as GoComics and "X". Sad true, but at least I'm reverting <i>even more </i>into my single digit days when life seemed a whole lot more worthy of living in.</p>
<p>
'n really, there ain't that much "personal" to write about this time, nor
anything else that might be rottin' away in that root cellar in my head. Politics is a bore
right now other'n for the thrill of seeing bad things happen to people I hate
(plus it is fun watching the ongoing mental deterioration of our Commander in
Chief [the one I'm sure most of you people voted for] who makes past presidents like Gerald Ford look stoic in
comparison...a real hoot in fact!), although I still follow da nooze somewhat
rabidly if only through my frequent skeedaddles over to the Ron Unz site. Right at this
very nanosecond it seems as if my extracurricular (non-musical) activities are
pretty much focused on, besides trying to get some music listening time in, the boob tube what with me watching nothing but black
and white westerns (with a few trips towards <b>BONANZA</b>) as well as an
occasional peek-a-boo at the Boomerang net for some old
Hanna-Barbera<b> </b>cartoons when the mood fits. It might not be as
bright lights and big city as your very existence, but it'll do.
</p>
<p>
In between that well, I'm burrowing through a few dozen boxes of randomly
dumped in Cee-Dees collected over thirtysome years still in search of my Hoodoo
Rhythm Devils platters. H'aint found them yet but I have about a dozen other
recordings I've been looking for during past hankerin's for certain breeds of
sound which at least will help ease some strain, or undoubtedly add to it. At
this rate expect me to find the Devils spinners around the time they're ready
to tote me to the paupers field which is an ignoble way to go out, but I
don't think I'll be complainin' one bit.
</p>
<blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<p>
There've been quite a few deaths since we last spake that I think I should
mention here including Can frontman Damo Suzuki and MC5 guitarist Wayne
Kramer, something which I guess makes Dennis Thompson the MC1. Mary Weiss from
the Shangri Las too. And by the time this post hits the screen there will
probably be many
<u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">MANY</u> more who I'll find out about a few months from now.
Unfortunately there haint been any deaths that we can sure rah rah about, but
I get the feeling that our reason to celebrate might be coming a lot sooner
than the enemies of the Reich might think. Or at least we can hope and pray
so.
</p>
<blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<p>
Given my intense obsession with the Velvet Underground and their somewhat
expansive saturation of the better moments of 60s/70s musical dynamism I was
rather surprised by this particular <a href="https://www.peterstanfield.com/blog/2024/1/22/the-who-and-the-velvet-underground-john-hofsess-palace-of-pleasure-1967#comments-65ae87a8435b6000f64a6305=">entry</a> into the myth, thanks to writer Peter Stanfield 'natch who seems to be my only go to source for truly critical appraisals these days. Never heard
about filmmaker John Hofsess or his works, and although reading about his
filmic efforts doesn't quite flibben my jib his use of the Velvet Underground
(and the Who with "My Generation" and "The Ox"!!!) on the soundtrack to his
<b>BLACK ZERO</b> split screen effort sure is something that
fortunately adds to the canon of new and surprising things regarding the Velvets which was something I thought was mined out ages back. </p><p>I'm even more
curious about this act who also appears on the soundtrack called "The Gass
Company" (one of many with that very name thus no concrete information's to be had) who surprisingly enough were one of the few acts influenced by
the Velvets (at least according to Stanfield's descriptions) while Reed and
Co. were still up and about! Heck I don't wanna see the movie at all...give me
the soundtrack to Hofsess' <b>BLACK ZERO </b>and <b>REDPATH 25</b> (or at
least the pertinent portions) and I should be about as much of a happy camper
as I can get to be these days.
</p>
<blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<p>
Lotsa sounds to spurt about this time, some courtesy of Paul McGarry, others
Robert Forward, and dagnabbit even more others courtesy of me<i>me</i><b style="font-style: italic;">ME!</b> Had a nice time listening to and
writing these things up here in the comfy confines of my fart encrusted
bedroom, something which is fine by me since it sure beats doing something
<b>CONSTRUCTIVE</b> like volunteering for Meals on Wheels. Speaking of
being constructive, maybe its time for me do drag out my Creative Construction
Company disque for yet another spin. I'll betcha that you've all noticed a rather
AACM-ish direction that I've been taking these past few months. Maybe it has
something to do with the long-lingering pangs I get thinkin' back to the days
of the New Music Distribution Service looking through their catalog trying to
figure out the best way to spend the pittance I usually had to spend on such
frivolities as experimental jazz/classical albums and the grief I usually got
for buyin' 'em as well! (Still remember my folk's puzzlement regarding me
buying records by musical acts who weren't on tee-vee or being played on the
radio and how they could even survive if nobody they knew heard about them and
you couldn't even find their albums at the local record shop. Looking back, I
don't think I did too good of a job explaining things either.) Anyway, dig in.
</p>
<p><br /></p>
<p><b></b></p>
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</div>
<b>Richard Meltzer-FRANKIE CD-r burn</b>
<p></p>
<p>
A portion of a mid-eighties reading of the famed Meltzer/Tosches novella by
the first of the two, making for a way better presentation of the story of the
infamous wild wall of manhood than had Edward Herrmann's syntho voice made an
audio book of it. Unlike anything related to humor since at least the turn of
the nineties, this saga is wonderfully offensive and pretty high-larious at
that, and for that matter way funnier'n most of the stuff that is supposed to
pass for har-de-har-har these sad and sorry days. Lotsa neeto asides regarding
everything from Joe Franklin to various local hotspots too. Kinda makes me
wish this book was around during my high stool days because if it had been boy
would my public speaking class've been a hoot!
</p>
<blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<p>
<b>Map of the World-HIROSHIMA GIRLS 12-inch 45 rpm EP; NATURAL DISASTERS
12-inch 33 rpm EP (both on Stigmata Records)</b>
</p>
<p>
A recent back and forth about the heavy duty Arab population located in the
state of Michigan had me thinking about this brother/sister team (Khalid and
Sophia Hanifi respectively) and their group Map of the World who recorded what I
thought a rather dudster record on Atlantic sometime in the late-eighties.
Having destroyed that cheapo tape ages back I somehow got to ruminating whether
or not this group with the rather unpretentious (really!) name, despite my
original judgement, were in fact one of those straightforward local rock acts
who lacked the snootiness and pomposity of a good portion of the amerindie/alt sounds I've had the displeasure of hearing these past few decades.
Y'know, the kinda act that woulda appeared at your local high school gym in
'69, '79, '89 and even beyond and still sound as downhome straightforward each
time out! So that's why I parted with some hard-begged to get these records
given that sometimes I just gotta play a hunch!
</p>
<p></p>
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</div>
For once that hunch turned out to be right because these pre-Atlantic Map of the
World recs show a young bunch of kids who have heads screwed in tight and a
musical flair that recalls mid-seventies retro-freshness more than it does quick
flash up-to-date doldrums. Sophia has a uniquely strong set o' pipes which
really drives the Map oeuvre home even more while brother Khalid's no slouch
either handling the singing and guitar on some rather powerful material both
original and cover (Patsy Cline's "Crazy" done up pretty unpretentiously
straightforward at that). The sound surely ain't REM jangle, closer to Byrds
jangle maybe with an approach to the poppier side of rock that might have you
conjuring up mid-seventies Flamin' Groovies (no kidding!), early Move (<u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">REALLY</u> no kidding!), late-eighties Droogs (really<i style="font-weight: bold;">really</i><u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">REALLY</u> no
kidding!) or even better the Disposable God Squad, this obscure-o
late-eighties NYC powerpop act who had a nice kinetic drive to their own
retropop approach which of course got 'em buried by a load of subpar sputum as did Map
of the World for that matter.
<p></p>
<p></p>
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</div>
Sheesh, I even hear some early pre-puke your entire guts out Jefferson Airplane
(at least on "Hiroshima Girls" which actually appears on both platters it's that
good) and if I could like a song that reflects those San Franciscan acidstoops
it's <i>gotta</i> be good! The rot that seemed to overtake
<u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">ALL</u> musical genres
had not set in with Map of the World and like, when I hear these two spinners I
am reminded of the brighter side of local perhaps not-so-innovative but still
way digestible rock that always seemed to get tossed to the wayside in favor of some rather dire music.
<p></p>
<p>
I think I gotta get hold of their Atlantic LP so's I can remember why I loathed the thing. These records are the exact kind of rock 'n roll that I was craving for back during
the early days of my crudzine when I really hadda peck out and search for
records that suited my own personal sense of musical aesthetics more often
than not failing to find the one that hit the musical G-spot. And for being done up by young 'uns at a time when "rock" "music" was splintered into about ten different factions that all sucked well, I sure wish there was more of <u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">this</u> and less of <u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">that</u><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"> </span>goin' 'round, <i>nomesame?</i></p>
<blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<p><b></b></p>
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</div>
<b>Eric Dolphy Septet with Donald Byrd-PARIS '64 CD-r burn (originally on Hi Hat
Records, Cyprus)</b>
<p></p>
<p>
I dunno if Dolphy ever recorded anything that <i>wasn't</i> worthy of
one's ears, and this effort certainly ain't one to do any chain breaking.
Donald Byrd (who covered a whole load of jazz territory before and after this,
his best known work being that Blackbyrds fave "Walkin' in Rhythm") fits in
swell even in a more avgarde setting and to be brief about it I can't find a
thing on this that would prevent me from spinnin' it again. Worth anyone's
while.
</p>
<blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<p><b></b></p>
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</div>
<b>Anthony Braxton/Richard Teitelbaum-SILENCE/TIME ZONES CD (Black Lion Records,
Germany)</b>
<p></p>
<p>
Definite Cage influence on Leo Smith's "Silence" while Leroy Jenkins' "Off The
Top Of My Head" continues on that late-sixties Braxton trio delve into the
classical avgarde approach to the new jazz thing. Both tracks should be highly
up there on
<u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">your</u> own personal
free music hit parade, that is if you're the type who still has an abnormal
hankerin' for this sort of sound swirl that might be old news now but does
anyone with a mind really <i>care?</i> </p><p>Braxton's once again teamed up
with synth player and former MEV member Teitelbaum on the rest making for even more classical/jazz hybrid what with Braxton's reeds swinging around and
sometimes even fighting Teitelbaum's blips and blurbs. The final track was
recorded at Bearsville studios making for a connection even if it is so slight
between Braxton and Todd Rundgren if you can fathom that.
</p>
<blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<p><b></b></p>
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</div>
<b>Ed Sanders-SANDERS TRUCKSTOP CD-r burn (originally on Reprise Records)</b>
<p></p>
<p>
Saw this 'un in plenty of used bins during the 70s/80s but shied away thinking
that Sanders' backwoods radical bumpkin act would be as overpowering as it was
on the Fugs' grand goodbye <b>THE BELLE OF AVENUE A</b>. Actually this is fair as far as for being a representation of a counterkultur icon paying
tribute to the music he grew up with while putting down the redneck culture
behind it, but there should have been a whole lot more Michael Hurley
Americana and a whole lot less Arlo Guthrie Woodstock hippie on display<i>. </i><b><u>AFTERTHOUGHT</u>: </b>that LP closer was a fine cap on the album and
almost makes up for the hippie hickdom of the rest.
</p>
<blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<p><b></b></p>
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<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsQROnaD1A6OFDoeQyPto7zoUl418lT043FaC81ks4OPMFsOOScKc6J1xMFRhiwbqZv6ka6oWro4T10p3pVT7Z1oDjBYvKHWhcsgbeZub1GNjGTXp_cEDAtbc8mF_BO-EzfohBoikN7FFUZ0XY1qht5a08KBmiKLIAHqQYYLxdJMGHOsFZhUv1kg/s1200/Heavy%20Rain.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsQROnaD1A6OFDoeQyPto7zoUl418lT043FaC81ks4OPMFsOOScKc6J1xMFRhiwbqZv6ka6oWro4T10p3pVT7Z1oDjBYvKHWhcsgbeZub1GNjGTXp_cEDAtbc8mF_BO-EzfohBoikN7FFUZ0XY1qht5a08KBmiKLIAHqQYYLxdJMGHOsFZhUv1kg/w200-h200/Heavy%20Rain.jpg" width="200" /></a></b>
</div>
<b>HEAVY RAIN CD-r burn (originally on Guerssen Records, Spain)</b>
<p></p>
<p>
Early seventies heavy rock lives on whether we want it to or not. And
thankfully this particular entry into the annals of lunkdom is worth the
exhumation given how it captures all of the worthy thud of the movement that
evaporated once commercial music began to slicken up, heavy metal became a noun rather
than a verb, and <b>CREEM</b> magazine was inundated with color glossy
snaps of horrid hair groups who thought they were cutting edge tuffguys with
their adolescent snarls. </p><p>Like with the best of the movement, nervegrate takes
precedence over fine playing (which is why the AOR FM-bred dolt kids of the
late-seventies/eighties were the real descendents [no sic] of their hi-fi
EZ-listening parents the way they preferred musicianship and quality over
bared knuckle excitement like this), reminding me of just how bad things have
slid never to return.
</p>
<blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<p><b></b></p>
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<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzj_w4LEdfNwYnGqrAQHnh9MkKNZMFTC0f2Gn4b5vzmF14GhRFB9p_hXXPHOJnAMHEUPrNJH4QN2pLYlc3tFaq8bUbXGRkAwzlBUexOzyvWUie37PdQINDsrjsL-6LU7rjsNcn11zKaLmWxKTye64bw6PJGKsRISL8t59NHZJvQJv152M9g1TS-w/s1080/Desperate%20Bicycles.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzj_w4LEdfNwYnGqrAQHnh9MkKNZMFTC0f2Gn4b5vzmF14GhRFB9p_hXXPHOJnAMHEUPrNJH4QN2pLYlc3tFaq8bUbXGRkAwzlBUexOzyvWUie37PdQINDsrjsL-6LU7rjsNcn11zKaLmWxKTye64bw6PJGKsRISL8t59NHZJvQJv152M9g1TS-w/w200-h200/Desperate%20Bicycles.png" width="200" /></a></b>
</div>
<b>The Desperate Bicycles-COMPLETE ANTHOLOGY (1977-1980) CD-r burn (originally
on their Refill label etc. and so forth)</b>
<p></p>
<p>
DIY sure meant squat once we all realized that maybe the people who
<i>were</i> doing it themselves weren't exactly up to the task of making
music <u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">worthy</u> of
listening to. How this fits in with the Desperate Bicycles, a group who formed
for the express purposes of releasing their own platters,
<i style="font-weight: bold;">well</i>...
</p>
<p>
Early trackage has that basement quality punkitude that makes for a good
listening experience, but that later stuff just reminds me of the loss of
faith I had in a musical movement I thought would have known better than to
fall into some of the stalest ruts these guys said they stood against only a
few short years earlier. Remember that feeling you had about what had become
of "new wave" once 1981 set in? Yeah, me too.
</p>
<p>
Anyway, if ya <i>wannit</i>, ya <i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIhez3Qp2w4">gottit</a>!</i>
</p>
<blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<p><b></b></p>
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<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLSPxW6Mz_nem_u-Zc77sZthhm8YRIKPPGYtJK4MXnLwcSz1H-hGxa_uied_3MtLYSKpJpxndIO3uyN6IRAwva4qGDsDDtWqItSkvNlidoHVfRxbLPEXxbmoztPEZHU6LPbWlk_FPJldrIdcMcyFj_LN1HTgYBIBOHXbUTS8ZJBs7-fV1yws2mnA/s387/Nervous%20G..png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="302" data-original-width="387" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLSPxW6Mz_nem_u-Zc77sZthhm8YRIKPPGYtJK4MXnLwcSz1H-hGxa_uied_3MtLYSKpJpxndIO3uyN6IRAwva4qGDsDDtWqItSkvNlidoHVfRxbLPEXxbmoztPEZHU6LPbWlk_FPJldrIdcMcyFj_LN1HTgYBIBOHXbUTS8ZJBs7-fV1yws2mnA/w200-h156/Nervous%20G..png" width="200" /></a></b>
</div>
<b>Nervous Gender-HEPCATS FROM HELL 9/7/79 CD-r burn</b>
<p></p>
<p>
Quality's definitely of the "Assembled in Mexico" variety but it only adds to
the beautiful muffledness of it all. The same way that '74 cheapo press of
<b>WHITE LIGHT/WHITE HEAT</b> only made it sound the way it shoulda thus
disturbing hi fi nuts even more than they were when the original came out. </p><p>Does come somewhat close to various Suicidal electroterror efforts yet retains
an El Lay feeling that still woulda sounded boff in the confines of seventies
NYC. But it ain't NYC it's LA with all the good and bad that implied.
Meltzer's interview with 'em gives some insight into the inner workings and
I'm
<b><i><u>ALMOST</u></i></b> sorry I passed on their legit platters when they came out oh so many
years later. </p><p>I'm sure it turned more'n just a few heads in the late-seventies
but only a few measly years later did it matter in the least?
</p>
<blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<p><b></b></p>
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<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgio-U54P4qhr7KZsCFjpLq9gEWjzukigAuTBh2TIEW7KQzcQkxh57Y-AGFpcMKeFT631uK2fiB-X9mACENw3q6zkb_Ai4p5ZGnIxOJhvrta2Fnbv-zwzEA5X7pOGWpgtilQAOMBWmBMW1vOcIlnOprUJg9ofRyG8GaVrZlVitv4AnwefVqvfxeXw/s500/Full%20Moon.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgio-U54P4qhr7KZsCFjpLq9gEWjzukigAuTBh2TIEW7KQzcQkxh57Y-AGFpcMKeFT631uK2fiB-X9mACENw3q6zkb_Ai4p5ZGnIxOJhvrta2Fnbv-zwzEA5X7pOGWpgtilQAOMBWmBMW1vOcIlnOprUJg9ofRyG8GaVrZlVitv4AnwefVqvfxeXw/w200-h200/Full%20Moon.jpeg" width="200" /></a></b>
</div>
<b>FULL MOON CD-r burn (originally on Douglas Records)</b>
<p></p>
<p>
I thought this was gonna be a hard-edged fusion/jazz rock effort not
only due to free jazz drummer Philip Wilson's presence but because this popped up on the
Douglas label, the same one that issued John McLaughlin's pre-flirty flirt
albums as well as the essential <b>WILDFLOWERS</b> 5-LP collection of
crucial beyond belief Studio Rivbea loft jazz (where Wilson not-so-surprisingly also appears). However this is a <b><i><u>way</u></i></b> more commercial than I would have expected outing, not without its moments but still slicked up in an El Lay cocaine and sluts all over the place fashion that tends to irritate more than inspire. For a better representation of this genre of music I'd stick with the Good God album or heck, even some of those early-seventies Zappa things that turned off fans of the original Mothers but somehow sound better'n what the guy would come up with a few measly years later.</p><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote><p><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAN1Q7gaCJriCNR_Anb8idnY2EMplzFOJpxOcSPPxjAt1N8LoImviuVmSkOXlKeUQayVA51QknKoYPg7kMWFGfnSyJUs0qtRcKuiacAJhwiGgo4Q0sUz2P6bid39hN35rQaBgLmZ-uMX7o6SKBkPdGVuuBdLaqltNob3n64UXmjMcU2aeFYo9_mQ/s600/Moogy.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="595" data-original-width="600" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAN1Q7gaCJriCNR_Anb8idnY2EMplzFOJpxOcSPPxjAt1N8LoImviuVmSkOXlKeUQayVA51QknKoYPg7kMWFGfnSyJUs0qtRcKuiacAJhwiGgo4Q0sUz2P6bid39hN35rQaBgLmZ-uMX7o6SKBkPdGVuuBdLaqltNob3n64UXmjMcU2aeFYo9_mQ/w200-h198/Moogy.jpg" width="200" /></a></b></div><b>Mark "Moogy" Klingman-MOOGY CD-r burn (originally on Capitol Records) </b><p></p><p>Before and after his tenure with Todd Rundgren's Utopia Moogy Klingman was leading his own acts such as Moogy and the Rhythm Kings appearing at various NYC bistros trying to get a foothold into the industry. Heck, I even reviewed a Max's Kansas City appearance by his Revue featuring Andy Kauffman <a href="https://black2com.blogspot.com/2022/12/murray-christmas-you-remember-him-hes.html">here</a> even if for all practical purposes it's more of a historical artifact due to Kauffman and not Moogy. This album doesn't do Klingman much better, being in that early-seventies singer/songwriter mode that sounds even lamer today than it must have then. Sorta like Carole King if she transitioned into Billy Joel. Well, at least it reminds me of the theme to some seventies sitcom I probably got a big kick outta way back when.</p><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote><p></p>
<p><b></b></p>
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<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGjFDYSwWzh5u4mAwP0nAhbMohCczzKmzhGtk4lm6cOVdrRR5n0awY3cnZJybxN65f2Hke3kqVJQ2O9fI0TbsTJhcgXslEzef0pabLrw-XlXWBwLFeDyYGZzpSEz8jNoO7DPMmCQCyxX1kRrvu8cWUKa3uWVvybfMAEz7FGXEgeegCLUr-Bf9fMw/s480/Shonen%20Blue.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="480" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGjFDYSwWzh5u4mAwP0nAhbMohCczzKmzhGtk4lm6cOVdrRR5n0awY3cnZJybxN65f2Hke3kqVJQ2O9fI0TbsTJhcgXslEzef0pabLrw-XlXWBwLFeDyYGZzpSEz8jNoO7DPMmCQCyxX1kRrvu8cWUKa3uWVvybfMAEz7FGXEgeegCLUr-Bf9fMw/w200-h150/Shonen%20Blue.jpg" width="200" /></a></b>
</div>
<b>Yugi Oniki-SHONEN BLUE CD-r burn (originally on Big Art Records)</b>
<p></p>
<p>
I usually shy away from these newer than new (which for me is anything
recorded after 1982) "updated" takes on various past accomplishments but
decided to give this one a try because 1) Yugi Oniki is Japanese and they do
tend to have a touch when it comes to various neo-VU sonic moves and 2) Oniki
did provide the soundtrack for some Warhol mooms being shown at the University
of Michigan 'r some other local school of learning which might not amount to
much but the thought is nice.</p><p>Unfortunately this
<b>SHONEN BLUE</b> effort from back '88 way takes more of its cue from
Michael Stipe than it does Jamie Klimek and (as you would expect) tends to
seep deep into that wall of gelatin that has effected more than just a few
purveyors of the sound without the fury. Oniki should have had his head
shackled to that guitar-less feedback screeching amp of Les Rallize Denudes
until he learned what Velvets-infected
<u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">PASSION</u> really
meant.
</p><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<p>
Don't blame me if you couldn't get hold of any of <a href="https://black2com.blogspot.com/2023/02/what-do-all-these-creatures-have-in.html">these magazines</a> the first time around. As Lou Costello would have said, "they were
there for ya!" (or did I use that 'un already? Too lazy to find out myself).
But you could blame the hoity toity distributors who felt that these mags were
beneath their high levels of sartorial (at least on a fanzine plateau)
elegance, or you can blame it on these rags (and their editor) being so behind
the times that it actually was
<i style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration-line: underline;">ahead</i> of them (only I was the only one who realized it). Then again while
we're playing the blame game maybe I should also dump a load of it on all
those distributors who so gladly offered to help out yet stiffed me (Nicholas
from Chicago and that guy in Canada highly recommended by Bruce Mowat whose
name escapes me come to mind) as well as the ones who gladly flipped me off
regarding distribution over the phone in a display of snootful
better-than-thouism. Then
<u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">AGAIN</u>, there were the
ones who
<u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">DID</u> distribute the
mag and shortchanged me (including the head of a nefarious record label who at
the time was treated as a Brahmin on the "scene" even if he had to employ
bodyguards when attending clubs) leading to even more heavy financial loss. So
that's why you couldn't find these mags as readily as you should have and if
you think I'm bitter about it all here in my advanced age well, naw not
<i>really... </i>Still, if you think that these prices are inflated well, I
gotta get back at least
<b><i><u>SOME</u></i></b> of the moolah that I lost, right? It's either this or try gettin' 'em from your mother!</p>
<p><br /></p>
Christopher Stiglianohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17107248034597839482noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6910067.post-78612338713823314612024-02-09T07:28:00.001-05:002024-02-09T07:33:34.812-05:00<p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcshkXdvAy_tZSx4-YOO5X7MOSk3rKwd-GItsdWsP1E15gDWAawk3YQu7ugK0f0aP9YbG7xliy4HGJypv4XYPwiSGg76QbRVGv1HUagx8CzYLk0wYMP9ZxHsq96JLG-6n2TlYQKOgtihVY2X6c58OWkIczNqRjOKcJo0zHYnkU2X1dU2myR2YZfg/s1595/High%20Bias.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1595" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcshkXdvAy_tZSx4-YOO5X7MOSk3rKwd-GItsdWsP1E15gDWAawk3YQu7ugK0f0aP9YbG7xliy4HGJypv4XYPwiSGg76QbRVGv1HUagx8CzYLk0wYMP9ZxHsq96JLG-6n2TlYQKOgtihVY2X6c58OWkIczNqRjOKcJo0zHYnkU2X1dU2myR2YZfg/w434-h640/High%20Bias.jpg" width="434" /></a></b></span></div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>BOOK REVIEW! <i>HIGH BIAS - THE DISTORTED HISTORY OF THE CASSETTE TAPE</i> BY MARK MASTERS (The University of North Carolina Press, 2023)</b></span><p></p><p>For a fellow who still prides himself on delving into cassettes at a time when 8-tracks were the prevailing form of tapeage (so proud that my very first cassette player, inoperable since 1979, sits a good one foot from where I am typing this very schpiel) a book like <b>HIGH BIAS</b> comes off more like a vindication of my perseverance against the raging stoner box boy mindset that surely wasn't exactly the high point of seventies teenbo culture. </p><p>This Masters guy (who also wrote that higher than highly recommended no wave book a couple decades back) actually spent the time and exerted the energy detailing the who what when wheres etc. of the cassette, spinning yarns regarding some pretty interesting things about the impact of those little things on a whole load of musical trends, some good and others of which we couldn't care one whit about. But he did it and he did a good job at it and it's all here and it does thankfully end up as a rather hallowed tribute to a once-overlooked innovation that, even sixty years after its debut, still seems to have about as much of an impact on a whole load of things as it did 'round '80 when these things finally surpassed the 8-track as the prominent tapemode most recommended to capture the music one would want to hear on the go. Or, when combined with pharmaceuticals, that music which was blasted in public places for people who were probably more attuned to the strains of Jan Garber.</p><p>You might think that things along the lines of eighties tape trading or the whole "cassette culture" mode that seemed to make up a good portion of <b>OP</b>/<b>SOUND CHOICE</b>'s reason for existence nothing but a bad eighties memory but I don't. For me the cassette meant easily obtainable rare recordings, a cheap way for an act to release their music and (best of all) a nice eff-few to the bigname record labels who were beginning to look like even bigger downright evil frauds than any of us would have believed in the first place. If the cassette had never been invented boy, the access and distribution of music to folk in the boondocks like myself would have been quite stifling different.</p><p>Yeah, I coulda used some more juicy turdbits regarding this definite step up in the evolution of man. It woulda been nice to see some snaps of those early pre-recorded musical cassettes that were up and about a good four or so years before the advent of mass tape marketing, or for that matter the evolution of blank tape packaging with all of the strange and breakable contraptions these things came in. Shucks, if I were the guy pecking out this paen to home taping I woulda devoted an entire chapter to those cheap beyond belief "assembled in Mexico" three-packs that tended to fall apart after a good two plays. Eh, you can't have everything and I should be grateful that Masters slapped the tasty morsels regarding home taping that he did into this recollection of a not-so-distant past that was the best/worst of times in ways Dickens could never have fathomed.</p><p>The enclosed tape serves as somewhat of a soundtrack for the printed page although it seems (at least to me) somewhat of an arbitrary selection of current cassette label offerings. Sure looks nice and the musical selection rather tasty at that, but I couldn't tell you what was on it. Y'see, the thing jammed.</p>Christopher Stiglianohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17107248034597839482noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6910067.post-3135449116271287962024-02-01T09:33:00.000-05:002024-02-01T09:33:07.499-05:00<p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyV0kwCjNCUZxPnS80RWOyD-DmHFweIrMwTS6X6RiNHEcwzkGma_VkofWltWB-5EjpnrQj-alDZwduUcJguCdbTliEy9F3JaGR1BnkdnL67kELIQc507eMszgwNqRSr5dENlDIot1N7jfGE8WrWptEJwJgy4WCCyLA_OEwzI6FxawBYhmDsFZPgA/s1414/Mighty%20Mite.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1414" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyV0kwCjNCUZxPnS80RWOyD-DmHFweIrMwTS6X6RiNHEcwzkGma_VkofWltWB-5EjpnrQj-alDZwduUcJguCdbTliEy9F3JaGR1BnkdnL67kELIQc507eMszgwNqRSr5dENlDIot1N7jfGE8WrWptEJwJgy4WCCyLA_OEwzI6FxawBYhmDsFZPgA/w305-h400/Mighty%20Mite.jpg" width="305" /></a></b></span></div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>BOOK REVIEW! <i>THE COMPLETE MIGHTY MITE (</i>Gwandanaland Comics, 2019)</b></span> <p></p><div>The Golden Age of Comics might have unleashed a whole passel of memorable costumed crimefighters that I'm sure even the youngest comic book fans know and love eightysome years after the fact. Howevah, who out there wouldn't admit that there were quite a few turdburgers mixed in with the wowzers as even a quick perusal through many of these titles woulda let on to even the doofiest of comic fans extant. Even a dabbler in comics such as I can think of many superhero losers who shoulda been exiled to Earth XXXXX ages back given some of the "mistakes" I made at various newsstands and flea markets over the years. And with these PD reprints courtesy Gwandanaland boy are we up front and center for some real losers who mercifully have been forgotten as the years rolled on, only to be dug up and exhibited like those dead nuns that the communists in Spain oh so proudly put on display way back in the thirties.</div><div><br /></div><div>I dunno if you'd call Mighty Mite a superhero in the strictest form, but this half-humorous (and I'm being generous!) feature made for some of the hardest comic book reading I've had to endure in ages! Lemme tell you, I've had to suffer through many a lousy comic in my rather long span of existence but this one was like the printed page version of a King Kong-sized anal probe!</div><div><br /></div><div>Mickey Mite, while dressed as a caped crimefighter at a costume party, quite by accident stops a holdup committed by your typical forties hood types which, come to think of it, is pretty much the same origin story of Don Martin's Captain Klutz a good twentysome years later. Thus is born Mighty Mite, a hero who I don't think is gonna be up for membership in the Avengers even if he <i style="font-weight: bold;">was</i> a Marvel-Age character, which he wasn't much to Marvel's credit. Later on Mite gets some actual powers thanks to a magic ring, one that turns him into Master Mite, the character that I assume Mickey was dressed up as at the party. Even later (in perhaps in yet another origin saga) a fairy princess bestows upon Mickey the ring (talk about a twisted continuity!), only this time the brat conjures up Gazooka, a guy who looks just like Mighty Mite grown up and with a five o'clock shadow. Gazooka comes off comparatively uncouth and irritated by his lot in superherodom, and given the stories he's in its not hard to wonder why.</div><div><br /></div><div>Add in the usual one-dimensional galpal (who changes appearances drastically throughout the "hero's" thankfully short run) and some rather doofus storylines (like the one where Mite and girlfriend fly through the air in what looks like an inflatable wading pool with two kiddie balloons attached) and you got one reason to ditch your comics and do your homework like you're supposed to! There have been many a flub and misfire when it came to comic books and the characters that some detached publisher hoped woulda captured the public's imagination, and who other'n the creators' mothers would admit that this fart on the printed page's just but one of 'em.</div>Christopher Stiglianohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17107248034597839482noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6910067.post-62657736345720261602024-01-28T16:00:00.003-05:002024-02-10T06:11:20.387-05:00<p>
Time for me to do a li'l vileness signaling (which, like the spewing of
oh-so-smart set prosody you readers engage in, is only done to make me feel
warm and toasty not to mention
<u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">SUPERIOR</u> to you
all) with another one of my big deal posts where I get to tell you about
records and all other sorts of things that are happening in this utopian world of yours which just happens to be a dystopian world of mine.
Gotta admit that I did have some moments of joy 'tween these "bigtime" posts what
with the weather being so cold (at least it was for a good January weekend --- it's springtime <u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">warm</u> as I type this!) that I had nothing better to do than stay
snuggled up in the old farted up boudoir with a whole load of recordings and
books to keep me well occupied. Just hope that we get one of them good ol' snowstorms
soon so I can be holed up for a few days and just devote myself to these
better things in life, getting away from the rat race that's been
wearing me out for quite awhile so's I can really indulge in them oft neglected sounds 'n pix that make life more worthwhile than Bud Lite. But knowing me I'd probably have an
appendicitis attack and die due to the ambulance not being able to make it through, so maybe I just better be glad just for the way things are right now.</p>
<blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote><p>Despite the tragedy of real life I sure have been crankin' these posts out at what could be described as a fever pitch as of late. Way more than I had been the last two years, and although I'm not quite ready to get back into my old weekly grind (which I doubt I ever will but <i>eh!</i>) I gotta say it sure is grand to be perhaps a bit more active in the rock fandom game than usual even if (as if I really cared) nobody's gonna read this. Actually this new pace is just fine since I don't feel as if I have to be pressured to get these posts out to you peons who eagerly await every dribble I have to spew, and to top that I really don't give a hoot when these things hit the blogosphere because <i>really</i>, does this blog matter at all other than to give me something to do with the little free time I have? Remember, it's my world and Frank Sinatra is just living in it, or something like that.</p><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<p></p>
<p>
Hey, howdja like that way doctored up snap of me I've posted on the upper left
of the screen in yet another lame attempt at grabbing a little attention? AI
sure can do some goldurned wonders, which it sure did with the pic taken from
my teenbo years (and during a particularly enthralling Christmas break spent buying records and watching tee-vee!). Sheesh, I don't remember looking anything at all like that,
especially with that luscious glory on top of my skull having skedaddled a
good twenny or so years after this snap was taken!
</p>
<p>
Hey, I like it. It kinda reminds me of some eighties vintage Warhol work that
was done up after everyone on this earth knew he had nothing to do with it but he was so mimeographed that it didn't matter. Better yet, it comes off like a snap from one of those <b>SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE</b> 'tween commercial inserts that they used way back when the
show was actually funny. Then again it also reminds me of the front cover of
the first Lewis Furey album and everyone knows what a floperoo <i style="font-weight: bold;">that</i> was (well, it was back when I gave
it a listen oh so long ago --- who knows, maybe it's changed). Whatever I
think of it one thing's for sure, and that is I never knew that my left hand
could be so Plastic Man-esque pliable!
</p><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote><p>A good fiftysome years too late, but at least it <a href="https://blazingcatfur.ca/2024/01/24/melanie-the-singer-songwriter-who-shot-to-fame-after-woodstock-and-sang-the-chart-topping-hit-brand-new-key-is-dead-at-76/#disqus_thread">happened</a>.</p><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>Now onto the writeups, which I'll warn you aren't quite as on the ball as I would have liked but I can't be Christgau every day! Maybe my lack of Wheaties in the morn has contributed to my even more lack of creativity than usual or more likely it's the utter stupidity built right into my DNA, but rather than have no reviews I thought I'd just trudge on and present whatever I was able to muster up even during this dip in the roller coaster of my creative process. Be thankful for that, that is if your life is so vapid that you actually long for the type of dribble that I've been cranking out for a longer time that I can remember. Thanks be to Bob Forward for the donations.<div><br /><p><b></b></p>
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</div>
<b>Martin Rev-THE SUM OF OUR WOUNDS (CASSETTE RECORDINGS 1973-1985) CD (Bureau B
records, Germany)</b>
<p></p>
<p>
Smattering of various idea fleshouts courtesy the not-so staid mind of
Suicide's "musical half". Familiar themes pop up just begging for the feral
yelps of Alan Vega, although these tracks are powerful enough on their
lonesome that maybe he isn't <i>necessary</i> a'tall. Stimulating to the nervous system in
ways that haven't affected me in quite a while,
<b>THE SUM OF OUR WOUNDS </b>not-so strangely enough has me flashing back to
the days of my original prowling of the avgarde idiom, a time that I was
pretty open to this music to the point where a whole load of yells and shouts
were directed at me whenever something along the line of Varese would be
spinning on the ol' stereo. Coulda used some detailed info on what's what
tho.
</p><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<p><b></b></p>
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<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0i8lewXPYyFi04Nv_OK36L4WXlHkFviFU6zKwTnrM8m4J1j443kfrOmxgoQNoMnj8NkIv9Tou-B_vRM55ZO2RXeQjbv0Akr6YkruuC2GsNfgopxXQFBt5Yz1PzfEb2rmjJHr57N_eyh_5nY0YlTwcTN4Ron1Ui10fCNViygMW-TlNfR6ypPa28A/s1080/Johns%20Children%20a%20Strange%20Affair.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1026" data-original-width="1080" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0i8lewXPYyFi04Nv_OK36L4WXlHkFviFU6zKwTnrM8m4J1j443kfrOmxgoQNoMnj8NkIv9Tou-B_vRM55ZO2RXeQjbv0Akr6YkruuC2GsNfgopxXQFBt5Yz1PzfEb2rmjJHr57N_eyh_5nY0YlTwcTN4Ron1Ui10fCNViygMW-TlNfR6ypPa28A/w200-h190/Johns%20Children%20a%20Strange%20Affair.jpg" width="200" /></a></b>
</div>
<b>John's Children-A STRANGE AFFAIR --- THE SIXTIES RECORDINGS 2 CD set
(Grapefruit Records, England)</b>
<p></p>
<p>
Shee-yucks! After making a Gnu Year's resolution not to spend any precious
lucre on non-essentials what do I do but plunk down that hard-earned for
John's Childrens material I've had in various configurations for years on end!
Eh, it's got the Silence tracks which I've never lent ear to as well as some
Andy Ellison singles that have eluded me so it ain't exactly like I
was spending my moolah like a drunken sailor. It also got all of
<b>ORGASM</b> not to mention a whole batch of different takes and other
bits 'n feces which all sound great when placed under one solid roof.
'cept whoever put this one together left off the BBC seshes and Bolan's
vocalized "Sally Was An Angel" from <b>THE BEGINNING OF DOVES</b>, but
were these compilers ever perfect? Got any leftover Xmas cashage? If so, one
of these little dandies just might be good way for you to pour your precious
pennies down a rathole!
</p>
<p></p><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote><p>
</p>
<p><b></b></p>
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</div>
<b>Sonny Sharrock-SPACE GHOST COAST TO COAST/SAVAGES CD-r burn</b>
<p></p>
<p>
One from Mr. Forward who seems to (at least some of the time) hone in on the
musical wants and needs of mine with little if no error. This is the first
time I got to hear all of the Space Ghost music laid down by guitarist supremo
Sonny Sharrock right before his own capsizing and it sure exceeded my
expectations. This swan song material's nowhere near the neo-new fusion I thought it was going to be and
in fact it's pretty much on par with the man's various seventies workouts so don't worry that the guy went out on a sour note like Lou Reed did. I've
heard and reviewed the 1974 Savages material before but it's pretty much hokay having this repeat in my collection!
Now if someone could locate those live shows the man did with Material
which everyone seemed so interested in yet hardly anybody got to actually hear.
</p>
<p></p><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote><p><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxBubmV_vK5QTgoN1T3b0aTcumP_KgfIysDwdV-Xcfor02k0x5rVp-btZJDJq_gPudlkv9b8yWnUjS_2M_FkDbCMxjoubUmirDL9h20LfPdcaO_-eUkpIpLuPyuse6qQJMMJz2QP5bmneMZfRLbWw7VG_Ba6nbNZmaVINWpt11ewE6L6p53j2xJQ/s1080/Where%20You%20Lay%20Your%20Head.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1060" data-original-width="1080" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxBubmV_vK5QTgoN1T3b0aTcumP_KgfIysDwdV-Xcfor02k0x5rVp-btZJDJq_gPudlkv9b8yWnUjS_2M_FkDbCMxjoubUmirDL9h20LfPdcaO_-eUkpIpLuPyuse6qQJMMJz2QP5bmneMZfRLbWw7VG_Ba6nbNZmaVINWpt11ewE6L6p53j2xJQ/w200-h196/Where%20You%20Lay%20Your%20Head.jpg" width="200" /></a></b></div><b>Bill Cosby-WHERE YOU LAY YOUR HEAD CD (Verve Records)</b><p></p><p>Don't worry, I only got this one for Sharrock's presence on the thirteen-minute closer "Why is It I Can Never Find Anything In The Closet (It's Long But It's Alright") which also has Don Pullen on the keyboards and Jack DeJohnette on drums. It ain't <b>MONKEY POCKIE BOO </b>but it's still listenable, as is the entirety of this album featuring various Bill Cosby compositions that were written pretty much in the same way Jackie Gleason did with all those make out albums of his that you still see at flea markets. He even does some percussion on a few of 'em. Other players featured include David Murray and John Scofield so you know that Cosby has some taste regarding the more out-there areas of jass (at least as far as Murray's concerned since Scofield was always a refined sort of guitarist --- classy yet somewhat engaging).</p><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<p><b></b></p>
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</div>
<b>Neo Neos-KILL SOMEONE YOU HATE CD-r burn (originally on Neck Chop
Records/Another Label)</b>
<p></p>
<p>
Refreshing switch from the usual neo neo-hippie feely-feel that passes for punk
rock these days. Low-fi reminiscent of the old Screamin' Mee-Mees/Fuckin'
Flyin' A-Heads scronk that seemed oh so admirable before many a lesser mind rammed the whole home-produced DIY lo-fi concept right into
the dirt. The six-year-old singer spouting obscenities was
a nice touch. Maybe its because I haven't been listening to any of the ten
thousand other groups doing the frenetic grind lately that this sounds fair enough but whatever, I sure feel glad that the future is in the hands of such
stalwart, stoic youth as these.
</p><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote><p></p><p><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqnF5dnJZYa-g8IReVtXHNHG9J2PbnrkDKP6zkFcasu5np_3WbL00MmkzgyPc2tByu7DkexKDPxk__4KACf6T3aCXuzrWoOhSnk09zpFe1qALugM8wWia2IOcH-R9pGnV_hXQ-EPK8VBN4xvuhlIaX9m3gscWZARXNAYANCv7vlMHWrgGpciISJg/s599/Recommended%20Sampler.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="597" data-original-width="599" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqnF5dnJZYa-g8IReVtXHNHG9J2PbnrkDKP6zkFcasu5np_3WbL00MmkzgyPc2tByu7DkexKDPxk__4KACf6T3aCXuzrWoOhSnk09zpFe1qALugM8wWia2IOcH-R9pGnV_hXQ-EPK8VBN4xvuhlIaX9m3gscWZARXNAYANCv7vlMHWrgGpciISJg/w200-h199/Recommended%20Sampler.jpg" width="200" /></a></b></div><b>Various Artists-A RECOMMENDED SAMPLER 2 CD-r set (originally on ReR Megacorp Records, England)</b><p></p><p>Now that some of that "Rock In Opposition" music that once seemed somewhat obtuse sounds rather adventurous and even toe-tapping in retrospect, perhaps I should hail Mr. Forward for jetting this 25th anniversary of the '82 Recommended Sampler my very way. </p><p>Some of it sounds as unique as I'm sure it did to many an against the grain musical freak looking for something different in their musical pottage, while at times the usual Zappa specter seems to seep in (and I mean Zappa like in late-seventies Zappa when his usual egotistical musical approach became too overbearing even for the old time fans). It's full of surprises though, from soundtrack music for thirties-vintage French avant garde films (Felix Gasul) to late-seventies punk rock with the proper oomph to it (the Homosexuals). Something for (almost) everyone who at least reads this blog, and for me the more European it sounds the better. Even ends with Robert Wyatt's own version of "The Internationale" for all you spiritual communists out there, and judging from the response I get regarding this blog there must be many!</p><p>(One weirditie here's the presence of a Henry Cow spinoff group called the Black Sheep who perform a number called "Strangelove"...making me wonder whether or not this track is indeed a tribute to the famed Strangeloves of "I Want Candy" fame considering that those guys also went under the name the Sheep! Is the mess of a sound they make here supposed to be some sort of tribute to an act that I really doubt would have ever considered the Strangeloves to be part of their musical DNA makeup? Doubt it is but sheesh, wouldn't it be just marvy if it <i style="font-weight: bold;">was?????</i>)</p><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<p><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPB9vaLQlnhRDqIllMW4y7xOiDJxz0d2yOEQtP0ytSeM-0QmG1Er2TSfeZKlQkh1wfYFzafqMPWD_z7cQetU1sj3iH5dEjIZd8EIeQoRPsD3VNqc3jvsGZ7EgZyy4IVBDLOJYxm5Wn_kcQbrVU9UJuyQaHVxoaYp774yizr8tVBi4JL-HTGYolng/s500/Of%20Time%20and%20Stars.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPB9vaLQlnhRDqIllMW4y7xOiDJxz0d2yOEQtP0ytSeM-0QmG1Er2TSfeZKlQkh1wfYFzafqMPWD_z7cQetU1sj3iH5dEjIZd8EIeQoRPsD3VNqc3jvsGZ7EgZyy4IVBDLOJYxm5Wn_kcQbrVU9UJuyQaHVxoaYp774yizr8tVBi4JL-HTGYolng/w200-h200/Of%20Time%20and%20Stars.jpg" width="200" /></a></b></div><b>Hawkwind-OF TIME AND STARS, THE SINGLES CD-r burn</b><p></p>
<p>I tried to get info on this 'un via the internet, but all I could latch onto was some Arthur C. Clarke short story compilation. I guess this collection of early Hawkwind single sides was one of those come and go things if it's so obscure that it doesn't even turn up on discographies. (The <a href="https://butterboycompilations.blogspot.com/2023/09/hawkwind-of-time-stars-singles-2015.html">Butterboy</a> blog has not only the only mention of this item on the 'net but a download as well for all you penny pinchers out there.) Longtime Hawkwind fans have no need for this one, but if you're an upsprout wanting to learn something about this band and don't wanna spend the moolah why not go on Butterboy and discover for yourself what kind of a group Hawkwind was? It's got the classics from the English hit "Silver Machine" to those familiar Hawkwind showstoppers that unfortunately never did make their way to the charts here in the United States. Personal fave's the Robert Calvert effort "Urban Guerilla" which Jon Tiven once mentioned was custom made for the Deviants fan in us all. And it was!</p><p></p><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote><p>Yes, it <u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">has</u> been
reduced to me just wanting to see these <a href="https://black2com.blogspot.com/2023/02/what-do-all-these-creatures-have-in.html">magazines</a> ridded from my presence. It used to be fun writing, pasting,
distributing and waiting for the response as to what I and my various
contributors have pecked out, but eventually it all became more like a
business I took way too seriously which certainly did put somewhat of a damper
on things. And besides, it does get rather tiresome painting a target on my back and having all of my "friends" take pot shots at it. It's come to the point where whenever I glance upon the stack of these unsold items piled up in the corner all I can think about is what a bad move (one amongst many) that I made in this at-times hideous thing called life. Tell you what, buy
a whole sack load of these fanzines from me and maybe I'll stop with the nauseating
self-pity. But I doubt it.</p>
</div>Christopher Stiglianohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17107248034597839482noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6910067.post-18685328164469458852024-01-27T06:34:00.003-05:002024-01-27T06:34:40.436-05:00<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU7WhXzD5v-7DWXJ0TPvHeiS1HdrYMwEOy0n_nPCNg67oJXEEiOznjHvwQkZ2GuMAH_9hdjnAuWT11OBoGhPppTWBNmrnVFMrSRwQ2fuqFvF6KPQ7uOK_Y5cnZb2C_N7bKTxrgAyljRiUqY1nCuRKSeq1PBvTU42wVgnVfTNHC6K4_dC1Pqvts5Q/s1410/Son%20of%20Vulcan.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1410" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU7WhXzD5v-7DWXJ0TPvHeiS1HdrYMwEOy0n_nPCNg67oJXEEiOznjHvwQkZ2GuMAH_9hdjnAuWT11OBoGhPppTWBNmrnVFMrSRwQ2fuqFvF6KPQ7uOK_Y5cnZb2C_N7bKTxrgAyljRiUqY1nCuRKSeq1PBvTU42wVgnVfTNHC6K4_dC1Pqvts5Q/w306-h400/Son%20of%20Vulcan.jpg" width="306" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>BOOK REVIEW! <i>THE COMPLETE SON OF VULCAN</i> (Gwandanalad Comics, 2019)</b></span><p></p><div><span>It was more'n obvious that many a comic book publisher woulda swiped quite a few ideas from Marvel once the much-heralded "Marvel Age of Comics" drastically revolutionized the superhero concept (from stoic hero to piddling neurotic that is!). DC did well enough with <b>DOOM PATROL</b> while Archie flopped big time when they resurrected their Golden Age hero line, and whose idea at Tower Comics was it to create that beyond camp "Captain Marvel" character whose body would split up in a way that woulda even stymied Bloody Bill Anderson?</span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span>Not to be outdone in the idea snitching department, Charlton's <b>SON OF VULCAN</b> was that mobbed up company's attempt to recreate the <b>MIGHTY THOR </b>mythical god in a sixties comic setting look and feel that did so well for Marvel, along with the big bucks that went along with it of course. And although I gotta admit that these guys gave it the good ol' college try it's no wonder why this one flubbed the same way the rest of those nth-string efforts had. Not that the entire Charlton line wasn't without merit, but I think they shoulda just stuck to their comic strip renditions, Steve Ditko workouts and cowboy/hot rod books and left the majority of the superhero exploits to the smart ones. Nothing here is what I would call of a higher notch quality and not even in that good 'n <u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">CHEAP</u> fashion that always delivered even without the finesse of the more "respected" titles.</span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span>Feh art and tiresome storylines don't contribute to the superhero canon of excitement and adventure, and I find the tale of a reporter given power by the Gods of Olympus themselves not as fine tuned as a crippled doctor finding a gnarly piece of wood, banging it on the ground and becoming the God of Thunder. <b>SON OF VULCAN</b> had the good intentions, but none of the swerve and sway that Stan Lee was exacting upon his dominion.</span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span>Interesting aside: the cover of the final ish sports this interesting hype: "ATTENTION FANZINE READERS!!! CHALLENGE HAS BEEN ANSWERED...THE STORY IN THIS ISSUE WAS WRITTEN BY ONE OF YOU!!! DON'T MISS!!!" Actually, none other than Roy Thomas of <b>ALTER EGO </b>renown who went from low man on the totem pole to pro thanks to his prowess in the fanzine world was the writer of this particular effort dealing with the filming of a Trojan War epic. It's OK though I find his Marvel efforts just a few years later somewhat better even if I never really could appreciate the guy's overall style (somewhat staid despite many a good saga). Still, seeing a lure to the comic book fanzine crowd smack dab on the front cover of a sixties-era title was somewhat of a surprise, but then again it was only a few short years until Marvel actually issued their own "fanzine" entitled <b>FOOM!</b> which I actually was not allowed to subscribe to because I was wasting way too many precious pennies on candy and tootsietoys already! (Charlton eventually followed suit with their own 'zine but by that time it was music for me, and not much else for that matter.)</span></div>Christopher Stiglianohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17107248034597839482noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6910067.post-68188364239219043982024-01-23T13:39:00.003-05:002024-01-23T14:42:02.383-05:00<p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0qUIBOkGFw6NwrhNsxkH0R0bGhmXprB_ib7SuY4W0j7SSky40TZTcuIc0wzSnkQES6hsEP8zOnhTZuhfWLMsFr8sagKdTjzK8GFowy4wJtxjf7jwFZrmIWzbibBse2N3Hn3uJjNSw-wyzQexwjDJ0BY-Rx3ZN8Ch4UnCwKxoAfscXQQSB8tv11A/s1639/La%20Cave%20book.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1639" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0qUIBOkGFw6NwrhNsxkH0R0bGhmXprB_ib7SuY4W0j7SSky40TZTcuIc0wzSnkQES6hsEP8zOnhTZuhfWLMsFr8sagKdTjzK8GFowy4wJtxjf7jwFZrmIWzbibBse2N3Hn3uJjNSw-wyzQexwjDJ0BY-Rx3ZN8Ch4UnCwKxoAfscXQQSB8tv11A/w422-h640/La%20Cave%20book.jpg" width="422" /></a></b></span></div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>BOOK REVIEW! <i>LA CAVE - CLEVELAND'S LEGENDARY MUSIC CLUB AND THE '60'S FOLK-TO-ROCK REVOLUTION</i> BY STEVE TRAINA (JKL Inc. 2023)</b></span><p></p><p>I haven't read any of those all time greatest music venue books that have made their way out into the public realm, but considering that this particular noted Cleveland hangout was not only the place where the up-and-coming folkies got their early-sixties chops but the late-sixties creme-de-la rock groups their own foothold into the music biz well, maybe a read such as this is a little bit overdue considering the absolute dearth of Cleveland music club histories now, dontcha think?</p><p>Sure glad I got this 'un (unsolicited via Amazon --- wonder who the Secret Satan here was?) because this book really is a tonic for the rockist soul that I thought died out well over forty years back. And whoever this Steve Traina guy is, he sure did a fine job getting all of the details as to the who what when where why and hows about this hangout that pushed upon the more smart set types a whole buncha acts that pretty much set the stage for whatever good there was that came out of the sixties. A few bad eggs too but when lined up against the mighty (Velvets, Fugs, Blues Magoos, Silver Apples, Moby Grape...) the whole shebang merely comes off like a report card with one "C" amidst a whole pack of "A"'s.</p><p>It would figure that La Cave woulda been birthed near the beginning of that swinging decade and peter out around the time them years closed up shop. And really, the whole Cle atmosphere which made the place such a fertile ground for music on the up and coming side can be felt here what with Traina's concentration on the new and cutting edge acts as well as those who were getting little notice anywhere else, all of it getting detailed in a way one can be thankful for. <b>MEANING: </b>Traina ain't one of those fellas who makes up quotes and lost conversation in order to give this more of a Great Amerigan Novel feeling which woulda flopped had he did. It's nice and straightforward without any of the extraneous glop that has marred more than a few books about rock 'n roll <u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">NOT</u> as a commodity or as that soundtrack for spoiled middle class kids to acts all Peace Corps altruistic upper rung on the evolution scale.</p><p>A good one. Worth at least a once over. For those of you in the area who made it through those years alive and would do it again well, here's <i>your </i>tribute and like, don't say you didn't earn it. </p>Christopher Stiglianohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17107248034597839482noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6910067.post-25242299214368903662024-01-18T14:20:00.003-05:002024-01-21T13:21:11.225-05:00<p>
Here I am, the <b>MAN WITHOUT COMPUNCTION</b> (doing Dave Lang one
better!) with another one of these ever spaced out in more ways than one posts
where I get to blab on about everything from records 'n sounds compatible with
my nervous system to politics and everyday happenstance, hoping your lives are
just boring enough to buy into it all.
</p>
<p>
Other'n that well, once again welcome to <b>MY </b>world,
<b>MY</b> turf so to speak and feel grateful that I allowed you to enter
into it due to my undying kindness and love of my fellow music connoisseur
(<i>hah!</i>). The new year's bound to bring a few surprises, not only
regarding music in the "raw stages of becoming" (<u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">that</u> died out ages back) but archival digs <i>featuring</i> that
aforementioned music in the raw stages of becoming or whatever other put on
descriptor you can think of regarding the vibrations that has been dished out these
past fortysome (or even more!) years now, eh?</p><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<p></p>
<p>Wonder of wonders! The cathode connection has once again welcomed back
<b>THE RIFLEMAN</b> to its realm, this time on the INSP channel M-W and F
at eight in the evening and somewhere or other on the weekends. Powerful
programs here --- just saw the one where Royal Dano plays that mangled up
Civil War vet in a role which really wrenches the emotions even outta even the
more stoic amongst us! Sheesh, he could make the evilest person alive, or even
<b><i><u>you</u></i></b>
for that matter, look sympathetic! The spirit of Sam Peckinpaugh lives on,
thankfully without the bared squeezies.</p><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<p></p>
<p>Yeah I <u><i style="font-weight: bold;">PROMISED</i>,</u> no mo' AI
unless twas to be used in the line of doody but sheesh, I've been having so
much fun with it that I even ran a few covers of my old crudzine through the
AI generator and came up with quite a few mind-boggling doozies. I thought I'd
let you get a peek at 'em because well, I heard it was nice to share things
and better this than anonymous bodily fluids:</p>
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<p>
And if that wasn't a retardo way to pad out a post I don't know
<u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">what</u> was!
</p><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<p>Before we get "serious" I do have something to say that has been gnawing at me
for some time (though I might have brought this one up before so don't behead
me!). Don't
<u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">you</u> think that the
theme to <b>THE HIGH CHAPPARAL </b>sounds too close to comfort to "Telstar"?</p>
<blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<p>
And as for the recording reviews which follow --- well, Robert Forward better
feel glad that there was a cold snap up here in the Western Pee-YAY area or
else his latest package of goodies woulda been lost in the rubble along with
the rest. Well, with the weather being so cold it was either listen to his
bountiful batch of burns or plop in front of the boob tube and watch the
umpteenth rerun of <b>DANIEL BOONE</b> which I gotta admit is better'n
the old days when Sunday afternoon tee-vee seemed to consist of either some
dull movie, people in uniforms running around and getting paid for it, or
watching Phil Harris go fishing on <b>THE AMERICAN SPORTSMAN</b> but
eh!
</p>
<div>
The first 'un was obviously written under the influence of "Psychotic
Reactions and Carburetor Dung" (not to mention Peter Stanfield's numerous reviews
including that of the obscure rock fantasy <b>ARGO</b>) and should be taken as being a streak of juvenilia on my part. It should also be taken as total fluff since
for the most part tis way too obvious a piece to be called "creative" by any
stretch of the word. Trash, but as somebody or other once said a few times a
good fifty years back "it's <i style="font-weight: bold;">MY</i> trash" and if I can stand reading yours maybe you can mine.</div><div><br /></div><p>
</p>
<p><b></b></p>
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<b>Willy's Rats-THE TALE OF WILLY'S RATS/WILLY'S RATS/GREATEST HITS/ODDS AND
SODS LP's (Festival Records)</b>
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Yes it's true! After fifty years (or more) of haggling, frivilous lawsuits,
Sicilian vengeance via former manager Jimmy DeAngelo and haggling between
surviving bandmembers, the Willy's Rats albums have finally been reissued
legal-like. Yeah, now you can throw away all of those horrid pirate copies you
bought from Midnight Records back in the eighties --- the real deal meal is
here for you to enjoy and burp!
</div>
<div><br /></div>
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The Festival Records label knew doody about how to handle rock groups what
with their making their booty with albums by Murray Frogweather and The Don
Fellman Chorale and letting the rest fend for themselves. Maybe that's why
rock maniacs of the day were willing to pay that extra two buck for those
import copies with the flimsy yet classy covers, whenever a copy would be
lucky enough to wash up on our shores that is.
</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>
But after lo these many years Festival finally got it right and reissued the
Willy's Rats catalog with a class that is usually reserved for the less
enthralling musical acts on their roster, and given the hassles and bad
management and overall disdain Willy's Rats got from the rock press (excluding
such fanzines as <b>ELITE METAL GAZETTE</b> and <b>VOMIT VISIONS</b>) it
is <u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">tasty</u> that these
guys are finally getting the red carpet that shoulda been rolled out for 'em
ages back.
</div>
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Yeah, the cover screw ups that came with the very first batch wasn't exactly a
testimonial to Festival's quality control which I assume is jointly run by
Helen Keller and Karen Quinlan (though I managed to get 'em eager beaver I am
and I am proud to say that I own some downright collectable items that I can
sell and retire on if I so wish to). I mean--- <b>WILLY </b><i style="font-weight: bold;"><u>STONES</u>??? </i>But otherwise the label
did 'em swell not only with the overall packaging (each coming with an insert
featuring a history written by famous rockscribe A. Seltzer) but with
pressings that are a thousand per-cent better than those old tire mat excuses
for vinyl that Festival stuck on the public back 1969 way.
</div>
<div><br /></div>
Debut <b style="text-align: left;">THE TALE OF WILLY'S RATS </b>did
surprise us all back when it was flung into the record bins of 1968 and directly
into the cutout section the following year. Yeah, the hype about 'em being like
the Rolling Stones with a Bob Dylan influence really had a good portion of us
record ravers all agog but the actual effort proved Willy and crew to be much
more.
<div><br /></div>
<div>
(<b>WARNING!: </b>tune out of the next two paragraphs if you want to avoid a
load of boring autobiographical bilge I thought would help give this review
some added dimension --- <i>hah!</i> Get ready in five --- four --- three
--- two --- <b><i>ONE!</i></b>) Personally, when I heard this as a single-digit pooperoo back when
WPIC-FM was into the freeform mode of programming before they went Stereo 99
with a top forty twist. I went nuts 'n begged the folk for even more moolah to
"throw down a rat hole" (how appropriate!) as they used to say. No go Joe ---
Corgi Toys were fine enough but none of that decadent drivel was going to
touch the family stereo no way!
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</div>
Oh well, the parents only stalled my slide into the turdpit of hard rock
knocks by a few years but when I did find this 'un at a garage sale amid
copies of everything from <b>IN THE COURT OF THE CRIMSON KING</b> to
<b>MEMORIAL ALBUM FOR JOHN F. KENNEDY</b>.<b> </b>I snatched it up for
a quarter after locating the thing smack dab between copies of those very
albums which I bought only so I could smuggle this into the house.
<div><br /></div>
<div>
And when I spun it (folks weren't home) those memories of my earlier tuner
inner days sure came rushing back like the water breaking in King Kong's
wife. Lead singer Lou Francis really was an underrated figure on the
English rock scene, or any other scene for that matter. His vocalese oozed
Jagger true, but there were also more'n just "traces" of all the big lead
singer guns from Reg Presley and Sky Saxon to Iggy Pop and Alice Cooper.
The way he "belts out" the lyrics to such Willy's Rats classics as "Guided
Missile To Your Groin" (later covered so eloquently by The Electric Eels
who I assume heard this via repeated WMMS-FM plays during the freeform
year of 1970) evokes a terror that rarely comes up in the rock canon,
conjuring up a fear and feelings of impending doom that not even Jagger at
his most satanic could have envisioned.
</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>
Of course the backing is most suited to Francis's role as a modern day
magus summoning the spirits once known and rock & roll. No big
surprise since he honed his craft in a Shadows ripoff band before heading
into the mid-sixties r&b emulation society and becoming one of the
heralding lights of Third Generation Rock.
</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>
Let's just say that even the denizens of Ladbroke Grove who strolled by
Willy's Rats rehearsal space hearing a version of "Waiting For My Man"
that would have turned Lou Reed straight would be in for a
frightening surprise. The benefit of a diet of cigarettes and crisps and
watching the nth rerun of <b>THE FLINTSTONES</b>. Lead guitarist Jerry
plays with a fiery intensity that recalls James Gurley via "I Heard Her Call My Name" with more than a shard of Michael Karoli thrown
in. Willy's Rats have definitely moved on from their mid-sixties Eel Pie
Island influences, not that there was anything wrong with Eel Pie in the
first place (though for the life of me who'd want to
<u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">eat</u><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"> </span>one?)
but the places they go here--- <i>whew!</i>
</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>
Tracks like "Book of the Damned" sound as if they were written co-jointly
by Francis and Aliester Crowley's guardian angel while the production has
an eerie sense of nervescrape that wouldn't be duplicated at least until
those Crawlspace releases from thirty years later. Only the acoustic drag
"Child of the Earth" lets us down but I guess that was just an
afterthought reject tossed in to add some sort of counterpoint to the
metallic madness. You can always skip it, or at least look upon it as a
brief respite from the high energy levels. That is, if you really need a
respite.
</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>
A lot of the stick it to the man attitude that Willy's Rats were known for
isn't evident here but that's all remedied with the up against the
wall-ness of <b>WILLY'S RATS, </b>LP #2 guaranteed to get any phony high
school rebel kicked outta the house for sedition and general antisocial
behavior. Believe-you-me, the revolutionary rhetoric spewed on this
spinner makes the Jefferson Airplane's <b>VOLUNTEERS</b> sound like
the theme song for the Daughters of the American Revolution and the MC5
like the incidental music for <b>THE DONNA REED SHOW</b>. Rock statements
via the music being combined with fitting album art were the standard at
the time, and both of them shine on this gatefold showing most of the
group on the front and an obviously blasted into oblivion Francis on the
back, but <i style="font-weight: bold;">IN NO WAY</i> does that
prepare one for the anti-police/army/maybe even <i>you </i>attitude
to be found within the 35 minutes embedded into those grooves. I'm
surprised Festival didn't receive surprise visits from the FBI after their
audacity to release this searing scar of an album on the public!
</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>
It wasn't surprising that during their US tour that the obscene and
radical Rats joined that California Death Cult which almost had the entire
group reduced to La Bianca status. But I guess that's what these guys got
for dabbling in the realm of radical free love apocalypse mixed with the
dark arts and some bomb totin' anarchism. A cocktail that was bound to
explode in their face but miraculously the Rats made it back into their
hole. Just barely, but they made it in.
</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>
And I just wouldn't be honest if I told you I didn't think this review sucked
even your own number two. Well, it (like just about everything I do)
seemed like a good idea at the time.
</div><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<div>
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</div>
Jerome Cooper-A MAGICAL APPROACH CD-r burn (originally on Mutablemusic
Records)</b>
</div>
<div>
<b><br /></b>
</div>
<div>
Like Gomer Pyle woulda said, I liked Jerome Cooper's
<b>ROOT ASSUMPTION</b> album but I didn't love it. In fact, I recall
being downright bored by it at least during one spin but might have been
due to fraying at the nerve ends. However this live album by the former
Revolutionary Ensemble percussionist has me thinkin' that maybe my head
was slightly off-kilter during that particular playing of the man's
premiere effort 'cuz this is a high ranker as far as seventies jazz (and
its aural remnants) accomplishment goes.
</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>
The live take of "Root" here's mesmerizing what with Jerome's rhythmic
bass drum/high hat beat to a rather driving balaphone solo. Other tracks
feature a recorder-like flute called a chiramia as well as one of those
chintzy eighties-era cheapo Casio-like keyboards giving off some seeming
outta place synth sounds that, strangely enough, fit in with Cooper's
various excursions into African idiophonic clank. Dagnabbit but it sure is
surprising just how much music Cooper can get using such a small arsenal
of instruments.
</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>
Ornette Coleman himself gives this a rah-rah and like, who'd wanna argue
with him?
</div><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
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</div>
Anthony Braxton-LIVE AT THE RAINBOW GALLERY '79 CD-r burn (originally on
Hi Hat Records, Cyprus)</b>
</div>
<div>
<b><br /></b>
</div>
<div>
When this live in Minneapolis sesh was released Braxton was still riding
high on all of the good publicity he was gettin' ever since Arista signed
the guy up and made him the new Brubeck (as R. Meltzer kinda/sorta said in his 77
things 'bout 1977 piece). Well, the beret and stale doritos college students who
think they know better than everyone else needed <i>someone</i> to rah rah, eh? Maybe in this case they were
right. This is a pretty hotcha spinner what with Braxton and a band fulla
veterans of foreign sessions doing their best to keep that AACM drive
going on for as long as it did before all of the majors began dropping
their free jazz companies. If you wonder what that rumble was, that was Charlie
Barnett spinning in his grave after hearing Braxton's rendition of
"Cherokee".
</div><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<div>
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</div>
Jimmy Giuffre 3-1961 2 CD-r set (originally on ECM Records, Germany)</b>
</div>
<div>
<b><br /></b>
</div>
<div>
Robert Forward must be a mind reader (well, not really since there are
some thoughts in there no one should be privy to!) because I was looking
for this one for quite some time. These Verve sessions don't have
that avant-chamber feeling that made <b>FREE FALL</b> from the following year such a stand
out as far as the early-sixties new thing went, but they're still boff as
far as those explorations in jazz that must have seemed so strange even to
the then-prevailing bop crowd. Sheesh, and it was only a few years before
Giuffre went total Ornette thus confusing even more of those jazzbos who
remembered him from the days of Woody Herman!
</div><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<div>
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</div>
Albert Ayler-MORE LOST PERFORMANCES REVISITED CD-r burn (originally on
Hat Hut Records, Switzerland)</b>
</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>
Some repeats from the Revenant box set show up but sheesh, who cares what with the
beautiful blare being made available to me once again which I'll take in <u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">any</u> form. Mental instability
set to a sound that could only come outta heaven, or Belleview whichever
comes first. Personal highlights include the Newport version of "Japan"
(which you all will recognize from Pharoah Sanders' <b>TAUHID</b> album, done in a manner I don't think even Sanders himself would recognize!) as well as the twenty-minute "Four" where
Ayler joins the Cecil Taylor Trio a whole week before their recording of
the classic <b>NEFERTITTI THE BEAUTIFUL ONE HAS COME</b> album. One
worth getting fanatical about which sometimes comes too easy to me.
</div><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
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</div>
Various Artists-BRITISH OI! WORKING CLASS ANTHEMS CD-r burn (originally on
Hammer Records, England)</b><br />
<div><br /></div>
<div>
Hain't been listening to much Oi sounds lately, so this burn made for a
swell refresher course which only makes me wanna dig out alla them
early-eighties platters of mine that really seemed to upset a whole load
of souls at <b>NME</b>. (<b>SOUNDS</b> was hip on 'em though, but
that was before everybody found out just what a fraud Gary Bushell really
was.) Makes for a much better burst of rock as energy than the comparative
piddle that's been made by way too many a
<span style="font-family: courier; font-style: italic;">punque</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i> </i>act (as in sodomy) who are so stuck in the hippie mindset
that they actually believe in "community". Should wither a few lite
metal aficionados while they're at it. </span>I'm so glad that most people (especially those I
<u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">loathe</u>) are so
easily offended.
</div><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijr6WhetYHScS4NAPFqJCSIpJNGJKQMKsnLIamLG1iVCNYFgIq9EHR7z8XOE9TOr5GuGg4_84H-kzhfIZqETz0IS07ry9xXXOito2haLtp2kmqJoHy_ib3O3ybSM-G02QGVME5qOcN8bltYGjtuUXv7mMZlFTsQ76exLB9HrajiinsNAUo9vrxng/s628/Bay%20Area%20Blues%20Blasters.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="611" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijr6WhetYHScS4NAPFqJCSIpJNGJKQMKsnLIamLG1iVCNYFgIq9EHR7z8XOE9TOr5GuGg4_84H-kzhfIZqETz0IS07ry9xXXOito2haLtp2kmqJoHy_ib3O3ybSM-G02QGVME5qOcN8bltYGjtuUXv7mMZlFTsQ76exLB9HrajiinsNAUo9vrxng/w194-h200/Bay%20Area%20Blues%20Blasters.jpg" width="194" /></a>
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Various Artists-BAY AREA BLUES BLASTERS VOL. 1 --- THE 60's CD-r burn
(originally on El Cerrito Records)</b>
</div>
<div>
<b><br /></b>
</div>
<div>
What I said about those early blues and sanctified yelps last big post can
also be said about this 'un. At least the original whiteys who liked these
black Amerigan efforts grew up to make some rather good music as any fan
of the Downliners Sect or Them can tell you. Not the kind of music that I
really go whole hog for but eh, it sure sounds better'n anything I've
managed to hear in the supermarket lately.
</div><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<div>
It is true that not only I but my very <a href="https://black2com.blogspot.com/2023/02/what-do-all-these-creatures-have-in.html">crudzine</a> have been taken as a joke for a longer time than even Methuselah
could have remembered, but so what. I'm just waiting for the
<u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">PUNCHLINE</u> which
I'm sure will knock more'n a few naysayers out there for that legendary
loop. Until then, you can help lighten the load by grabbing up all of the
available back issues and then we can all settle down, see how everything
turns out, and perhaps even have the biggest ever guffaw in our entire
pitiful lives!
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Christopher Stiglianohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17107248034597839482noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6910067.post-30566449103576989342024-01-16T16:24:00.009-05:002024-01-19T12:56:35.392-05:00<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxhIh2AULIsahIy8baAnXz1zvCA2BtJV4nyOxfmiC4kQKIBqumv4Rx4VKkvTfq2b-bB8fjjU4ckSyqXgEh4u1QbX74mKLtSAz_SKQXT3MjmD2ydi6zh58bUnAMOQ4HIq4J1i-1BltoHoy5I1DvHQqtTB_h7Hu2tQysTSafFxNb3bLVV7pVtuAt4w/s1609/Music%20Noise%20Sooges.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1609" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxhIh2AULIsahIy8baAnXz1zvCA2BtJV4nyOxfmiC4kQKIBqumv4Rx4VKkvTfq2b-bB8fjjU4ckSyqXgEh4u1QbX74mKLtSAz_SKQXT3MjmD2ydi6zh58bUnAMOQ4HIq4J1i-1BltoHoy5I1DvHQqtTB_h7Hu2tQysTSafFxNb3bLVV7pVtuAt4w/w269-h400/Music%20Noise%20Sooges.jpg" width="269" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>BOOK REVIEW! </b><i style="font-weight: bold;">THE MUSIC AND NOISE OF THE STOOGES --- LOST IN THE FUTURE</i> <b>BY MICHAEL S. BEGNAL (Ashgate Popular and Folk Music Series, 2022)</b></span><p></p><p>Really didn't want to dish out the cold hard for this book considering that not only have I implemented a moratorium on buying any Stooges-related books (heck, I gave up on Velvet Underground-related re-think/re-hash <i>ages</i> ago!). as well as the plain fact that money isn't as easy to hang onto these days what with Bidenflation getting more out of control than a diabetic lush. So maybe I shouldn't be going whole hog for such "frivolities" (hah!) as this and save my dough for frozen White Castle burgers.</p><p>I bought it anyway given the hefty rah rahs of one Peter Stanfield and y'know what? I'm sure glad I did part with the filthy stuff that probably would have been put to worse use had it gone to things like medicine and taxes. This ain't just any ol' Stooges book but one which really deals with the deep down whys and wherefores of just what the group was up to during their original pre-<b>RAW POWER</b> romp and like, if you were ever one who wanted to get down to the bared-wire nitty gritty regarding the genetic makeup of this once-reviled/now praised by the same jamokes who reviled 'em way back when group well, you can't do better'n to latch onto this 'un and like <b><i><u>PRONTO</u>!</i></b></p><p>You might be somewhat put off by a casual skim over what with author Begnal's various sociopolitical weave-ins as well as frequent mentions of indecipherable theorists like Theodor Adorno, but this is far from being some heady intellectual snoozefest aimed at the more brainiac and terminally constipated amongst us. Lemme tell you, <u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">TONS</u> of pertinent information, a whole load of it unknown even to <i>me </i>if you can believe that is presented here along with the insight and workings of what was so unique and downright special about the Stooges. Information we sure coulda used a whole longtime ago but were never privy to until now which is a darn shame since if we only knew what is discussed here our appreciation of Iggy and Co. might have been <i style="font-weight: bold;">deepened </i>quite a bit if that is even possible.</p><p>I, for example, never knew that Robert Ashley's "Wolfman" (from one of the records that was included in the infamous avant garde magazine <b>SOURCE</b>) was such an important influence on Iggy, and the detailing of the group's early days when Iggy played a Hawaiian guitar with all strings tuned to "E" and Ron Asheton a bass guitar with a wah wah (never mind bro Scott with the oil drums) is, to be hambone about it, "priceless". The way Begnal dug up and dissected what happened and put it into heady but understandable terms kinda reminds me of how I attacked and mangled that formaldehyded rat way back in seventh grade --- in other words you might think the guy wrote a virtual textbook but if you're hotcha on the subject man are you gonna go whole hog over it! There's even a whole load about the Stooges' political bent smack dab in the middle of John Sinclair's Ann Arbor, and maybe they weren't so much the spiritual rednecks that many of us had grown to believe after all! </p><p>Really, this is worth the while. If you were wiped out by the neo-Troggs thud of the debut and thought that side two of <b>FUNHOUSE</b> just <u style="font-style: italic;">hadda</u><i>'</i><u style="font-style: italic;">ve</u><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span>been the bravest statement in free jazz since Sun Ra then well, I'm sure you've already bought, read, digested and puked up a few furballs about this 'un already, right?</p>Christopher Stiglianohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17107248034597839482noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6910067.post-45269775133731312422024-01-13T06:47:00.003-05:002024-01-21T07:59:29.885-05:00<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzx7D4fASF1UXRr6prUgHxHotagl_u839aPwF2OlGY-g0W8RJC1H2S95HM2RRF8qsXCKi3oUCZUOl85NZ6YZwovk-HV1K432gd0NMOPrcylqUrICdWw6_5jo49_wSDBa6hJkRr09QUI_vdHg9UzTNNQDUXFX_Uyk_bHdxiaV8PIasE8PjG92eurw/s1426/Tales%20of%20Suspense.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1426" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzx7D4fASF1UXRr6prUgHxHotagl_u839aPwF2OlGY-g0W8RJC1H2S95HM2RRF8qsXCKi3oUCZUOl85NZ6YZwovk-HV1K432gd0NMOPrcylqUrICdWw6_5jo49_wSDBa6hJkRr09QUI_vdHg9UzTNNQDUXFX_Uyk_bHdxiaV8PIasE8PjG92eurw/w303-h400/Tales%20of%20Suspense.jpg" width="303" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>BOOK REVIEW! <i>SUSPENSE AND SPACE WORLDS</i> (Gwandanaland Comics, 2021)</b></span><p></p><p>If any of you want to know what <b>TALES OF SUSPENSE</b> was like before the debut of Iron Man here's your chance. But don't expect <i>that</i> much, for these comics suffer a whole bunch from the Comics Code dinge that dampened a good portion of the industry to the point where the tension impact was reduced to the level of a Hello Kitty cartoon. At least until DC got into full gear with their Silver Age line of heroes and Atlas oozed into Marvel mode and did a whole load of remake/remodel on the entire shebang which did 'em just swell. </p><p>Gotta admit that the tales presented here really ain't up to the ol' Marvel snuff, but since this <i>was </i>'59 at least you can see 'em beginning to get some good bearings on the situation. Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko and Don Heck are already on board drawing stories that are just beginning to point ain the direction of the Marvel Age of Comics even if it is oh so slightly, just like them gigundo monster and alien creepazoid ones which seemed to herald the upcoming age when introduced a year or so later. EC legend Al Williamson is here although his art is sure slapdash next to his <b>WEIRD SCIENCE-FANTASY </b>efforts --- I guess the Comics Code really affected him spiritually or was it the fact that Al Feldstein wasn't constantly looking over his shoulder to make sure his art was better'n the usual crankout. Even some future Bullpen regulars like John Buscema and Joe Sinnott show up and hey, if you liked those Marvel reprint titles of the seventies with the updated covers that fooled Brad Kohler into thinking they were brand new efforts you'll get a swift kick outta these tales which did make for fine toilet reading as all good comics do, getting your mind offa some of the more disgusting things we all have to go through in life.</p><p>Also included in this book's a pre-Code title entitled <b>SPACE WORLDS</b>, a one-ish Atlas effort that shoulda never left the drawing board given the utter banality of the stories at hand. You can tell this 'un's gonna be a turdburger when not just one, but <u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">three</u> Flash Gordon/Buck Rogers ripoffs pop up in tales that are about as stimulating as a maple syrup enema. Somehow I think it woulda been all for the better had Wertham gone after dudsters like this and left the good 'un's <i style="font-weight: bold;"><u>alone</u>! </i>(I mean, when I was young and saw that Comics Code stamp on the covers I thought that meant that each and every story was read by a group of experts who made sure that the mags up for sale contained quality stories guaranteed to get the depression-era waged kids out their more bang for their buck! <i style="font-weight: bold;">REALLY!!!</i> That's probably why I never went near any Dell or Gold Key books but eh, I was having enough fun as it was.)</p><p>Oh, and to pad out the thing Gwandanalad stuck on a Golden Age Blue Beetle story that ain't whatcha'd call one of them superhero efforts that sticks in your mind like an early Batman saga. Pretty snoozeville in fact and, after giving the Beetle's costume a once-over I wonder just why Lee Falk didn't sue!</p>Christopher Stiglianohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17107248034597839482noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6910067.post-50508427897239264792024-01-07T18:24:00.006-05:002024-01-18T07:10:22.392-05:00<p></p>
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</div>Once again it's your favorite clump of unviable cells back from Christmas holiday and
ready to do some more much-needed blog-oriented jam kicking. I do
hope that you didn't get too blitzed out by the celebrations 'n all unlike the
wiry batch of kids seen directly to the left of us. Sheesh, don't these Little
Rascals rejects look like they've taken the brown acid, which I'm sure quite a
few of the real deal ones took when they became of pharmaceutical age??? Well, now that January is in full gear maybe the haze has lifted. For them, but not for me!<p></p>
<blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<p>
I might as well use this space to thank all of you wonderful people out there
who sent me presents this past Holiday Season, some which, like the history of cassette tapes by a chap
who calls himself Mark Masters (a name that rings a bell somewhat) look like
highly engrossing fare especially given my own appreciation of them things in
light of the more popular 8-Tracks back during my teenbo days. Bill Shute sent a buncha fine comic book collections I'll also be writing up once I get the
chance, whenever <b><i><u>that</u>'<u>ll</u></i></b> be natch! </p><p>Too bad just about alla these gifts arrived after the big day,
but that don't bug me any since I hardly got anything good anyway and these
belated beauts sure make up for my disappointment if only a tad. Fortunately these recent arrivals did manage to ooze some of them old X-mas funtime feelings outta me (well. not as much as if I would had I gotten alla those Corgi and Dinky Toys I didn't get back then), reminding me of alla those great days spending my newly gained moolah on
records and only
<u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">TELLING</u> the folk I
deposited it all in the bank, devious little fanabla that I was and probably
shall remain.
</p>
<blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<p></p>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM928J_YLkMVW6EcOoWmfgXsy6tAWudT25s9HAolkBZH5xJRih-AIHFUw3G4_pFjsWrksA0IVlAozxyzE0Q6OCm1DyVK8QuPF68hR7C0OXalkQ-oFriP1A0GBEoxI1ONaOfBTNMkuWFQPMzTYvE36pWJ4ebSLnAcUdzvN6zr1uINyQQ9g1GeUeJA/s1501/Droogs%20Card%20III.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1501" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM928J_YLkMVW6EcOoWmfgXsy6tAWudT25s9HAolkBZH5xJRih-AIHFUw3G4_pFjsWrksA0IVlAozxyzE0Q6OCm1DyVK8QuPF68hR7C0OXalkQ-oFriP1A0GBEoxI1ONaOfBTNMkuWFQPMzTYvE36pWJ4ebSLnAcUdzvN6zr1uINyQQ9g1GeUeJA/w400-h288/Droogs%20Card%20III.jpg" width="400" /></a>
</div>
Better late than never's this year's Christmas card (which also arrived a day
too late but
<i>eh!</i>) from the Droogs and Plug and Socket Records, who also sent an entry
from an encyclopedia of Power Pop giving mention to the group (never thought
they were exactly power pop but with the way rock terminology gets twisto
chango'ed these days...). At least this inclusion shows that they're still
remembered by someone other than me which sure does some cockle warming of my
heart if I do say so myself!
<div><br /></div>
<div>
Sheesh, who woulda thunk that there'd've ever been a day when I would have been deemed important enough to rate a card from this legendary rock group (or <u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">any</u> rock group for that matter) --- kinda makes me feel somewhat important and big man on campus-like in the
same way I felt like I was front and center on rock 'n roll history back when
Lou Rone would play me various Von Lmo guitar riffs over the phone I'll tell
ya...
<p></p>
<blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<p></p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">
<tbody>
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<td style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKnDDK5j7RbnznQe-Kneoo4cvMDs3U-XoHK6JHYwtKVxIuplctgvGaJKVnog6rU6GZMefHypEKnseEV3qO8L9KWbbLEr0iNr1xtPUP2WlYNYlD5hsxPnJQ6eFmY7Jcm4fTru_MxmlSJSKAE2qgLbk7N56-z2nEvJGFWfkVIE-d2C5fNI48Lbgp0Q/s508/catheterizing.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="494" data-original-width="508" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKnDDK5j7RbnznQe-Kneoo4cvMDs3U-XoHK6JHYwtKVxIuplctgvGaJKVnog6rU6GZMefHypEKnseEV3qO8L9KWbbLEr0iNr1xtPUP2WlYNYlD5hsxPnJQ6eFmY7Jcm4fTru_MxmlSJSKAE2qgLbk7N56-z2nEvJGFWfkVIE-d2C5fNI48Lbgp0Q/w320-h312/catheterizing.jpg" width="320" /></a>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">
Interesting indigenous people's history<br />fact! Long before anyone
else, the Native<br />Americans were skilled experts at catheterizing!
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Anyhoo, maybe now is the best time to tell you that (once again) the year of
2024 is, especially after the spendthrifty days of last
year, going to be a real tighten the belt on one meaning
<b><i>NO RECORDS OR TAPES OR CEE-DEES OR WHATEVER UNLESS ITS ABSOLUTELY POSITIVELY NO DOUBT ABOUT IT NECESSARY!!!!!</i></b> (Of course it is arbitrary as to what exactly I would consider must have booty which just might ruin my financial planning after all!) I went through these periods of austerity before and of course told you all about 'em in particularly painful terms, but sheesh I just gotta save more of that filthy lucre for the future even if,
for some unseen reason, there isn't any then it all gets buried with me! It probably won't be that much of a pain, since I think I already have
enough goodies to keep me well and happy until the big bang, so why splurge
unless it's for something I just <b><i><u>gotta</u></i></b> have to tingle the ol' hammers and stirrups!
<div><br /></div>
<div>
Oh yeah I know I will be tempted, but pocketbook concerns
<i>do </i>come first. But oh the temptation, not only to buy some hot music but to generally keep the cash in my possession and not spend any of it on <i>frivolities</i> and other items I really can do without. I just hope you're around here to remind me of
that when I head on down to Aldi's and see all of those tasty treats they
stick in their specialty cooler! Goat cheese and sliced tomatoes frozen
pizza, those little Mexican pastries filled with spicy meat and of course
German Black Forest cake, one of which I believe still resides in the
freezer even after a good two years!</div><div><p></p>
<blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<div>
Gee, I gotta admit that this Bing AI chat thing is pretty neat! But
<b><i>"</i></b><u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">respected</u><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">"</span><span style="font-style: italic;">???</span> Ya gotta be kiddin'!:
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgY60Xcx2_oxStzGP5hSO3ZurA3oO6PVdRraEoXfZbjVsw-U7jyGBX_Q0E9cgLgsQvKhDweZKJyDtedgmEorCX5BUl6MADhurJoQGpx2ZD-RWJmBXcFnmKK_gDJD7wPSSGZQn1vA0Zv8yGbIpwrekcXw7JwivelBzjo_8hZvSKFi95XQVal_goCFw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="129" data-original-width="320" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgY60Xcx2_oxStzGP5hSO3ZurA3oO6PVdRraEoXfZbjVsw-U7jyGBX_Q0E9cgLgsQvKhDweZKJyDtedgmEorCX5BUl6MADhurJoQGpx2ZD-RWJmBXcFnmKK_gDJD7wPSSGZQn1vA0Zv8yGbIpwrekcXw7JwivelBzjo_8hZvSKFi95XQVal_goCFw=w640-h258" width="640" /></a>
</div>
<blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote><p>Know your enemy, part one-million:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFnX-U0S5PmAPOoz3yTjjoP494n1txTkojSRSzETyFUIt3dekJiOr6Cm1GboeqRDqlbcax17pOKSZRHJAW2x5dVu3kCFoZZuFYSrNi8zL0qVtMvwcSNdf-jp_rE-pqKzRRuz4kFqRL7yjqQgxuuulYxyAZH-zGTbCdnPYWPWnhmYVHVX6o7z5hTg/s725/Jesse.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="725" data-original-width="462" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFnX-U0S5PmAPOoz3yTjjoP494n1txTkojSRSzETyFUIt3dekJiOr6Cm1GboeqRDqlbcax17pOKSZRHJAW2x5dVu3kCFoZZuFYSrNi8zL0qVtMvwcSNdf-jp_rE-pqKzRRuz4kFqRL7yjqQgxuuulYxyAZH-zGTbCdnPYWPWnhmYVHVX6o7z5hTg/w408-h640/Jesse.jpg" width="408" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFnX-U0S5PmAPOoz3yTjjoP494n1txTkojSRSzETyFUIt3dekJiOr6Cm1GboeqRDqlbcax17pOKSZRHJAW2x5dVu3kCFoZZuFYSrNi8zL0qVtMvwcSNdf-jp_rE-pqKzRRuz4kFqRL7yjqQgxuuulYxyAZH-zGTbCdnPYWPWnhmYVHVX6o7z5hTg/s725/Jesse.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFnX-U0S5PmAPOoz3yTjjoP494n1txTkojSRSzETyFUIt3dekJiOr6Cm1GboeqRDqlbcax17pOKSZRHJAW2x5dVu3kCFoZZuFYSrNi8zL0qVtMvwcSNdf-jp_rE-pqKzRRuz4kFqRL7yjqQgxuuulYxyAZH-zGTbCdnPYWPWnhmYVHVX6o7z5hTg/s725/Jesse.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFnX-U0S5PmAPOoz3yTjjoP494n1txTkojSRSzETyFUIt3dekJiOr6Cm1GboeqRDqlbcax17pOKSZRHJAW2x5dVu3kCFoZZuFYSrNi8zL0qVtMvwcSNdf-jp_rE-pqKzRRuz4kFqRL7yjqQgxuuulYxyAZH-zGTbCdnPYWPWnhmYVHVX6o7z5hTg/s725/Jesse.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></div><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote><p>Not that I shoulda been surprised, but the "new" and "revamped" <a href="https://www.metrotimes.com/music/creem-magazine-gets-punished-for-sophomoric-70s-era-in-new-bdsm-themed-cover-32269685" style="font-weight: bold;">CREEM</a> (you know, once the home of high energy Detroit heavy metal) has reached a level of sociopolitical wokeness that makes even those weepy enough eighties issues of theirs (not to mention anything <b>ROLLING STONE</b> was worthy of cranking out) look positively stoic. Guess Brad Kohler was right all along to which I say....dagnabbit!</p><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote><p></p>
I believe that I do have quite a good selection of soundage up for inspection
this time, and since I didn't have to pay a penny for any of it (all sent
by the likes of Paul McGarry, P.D. Fadensonnen and Bob Forward) t'is all for the better! Like I said, if I gotta start acting like a Scotsman I better
start doing it now, which reminds me of a funny story regarding when I was
a kid and my father told me that I should be more like the Scots and I said
<i style="font-weight: bold;">"STINGY????"</i> to which he shouted back
<i style="font-weight: bold;">"NO YOU MORON --- <u>THRIFTY</u> !!!!!"</i> And a hoot mon to you too!<br /><br /><br /><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXU1unmYr3jT0zEWIGmey35CL6rIAbU4I7UhegiQyKlf0LM6fwu6IykR2tvZvrkwSHNL868eb_AGf0yvWn1P5qxL7-w5CqdfayP0Xfj3wRWNcl-DEgno5THA0Q6aTTWd8bVl_UgNFE0YUHvW2lh5Bxcag-zAE6-tYk78f23-qMRIy1_erFdhyphenhyphenuRg/s661/Screwed%20Up!.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="661" data-original-width="649" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXU1unmYr3jT0zEWIGmey35CL6rIAbU4I7UhegiQyKlf0LM6fwu6IykR2tvZvrkwSHNL868eb_AGf0yvWn1P5qxL7-w5CqdfayP0Xfj3wRWNcl-DEgno5THA0Q6aTTWd8bVl_UgNFE0YUHvW2lh5Bxcag-zAE6-tYk78f23-qMRIy1_erFdhyphenhyphenuRg/w196-h200/Screwed%20Up!.png" width="196" /></a>
</div>
The Pink Fairies-SCREWED UP! CD-r burn (originally on Cleopatra
Records</b>
<div>
<b><br /></b>
</div>
<div>
Yup, the Pink Geriatrics (Canadian division) are back kinda/sorta, with
North Amerigan rep Paul Rudolph hitching up with some old Hawkwind and
Motorhead pals for a trip I thought woulda fizzed out ages ago! Like
that platter Rudolph did with Twink a couple decades back this really
ain't anything as beautifully psyched as the Polydor albums, but if you
liked any of the Pink Fairies reunion disques that have come out since
the mid-eighties this'll suit you just fine and dandy. And for you
old-timers there's a boff version of the Deviants "chestnut" "Screwed
Up" not to mention that Hawkwind fave off
<b>QUARK STRANGENESS AND CHARM</b> "Hassan I Sabbah" complete with
violinist Simon House adding the exact same flourishes that he did on
the original. Heck, this really is good enough (especially when you
consider that most if not all of the musicians here are
septuagenarians!) that I'd even go see 'em if they were playin' in my
back yard, Who knows, if I were the kind of guy who'd only indulge in
some of the chemicals that fueled these guys for years on end maybe I
<i style="font-weight: bold;">WILL </i><span>(see pic above)</span>...
</div><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<div>
<b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzXlb8EkYhEoI9fut4MpRUS2dDElMBDaQRy58WNO2zMYp3o-TikPv1nGhv0tYFhtrg65ZDhhWawQUH4QpckwlRndzh7KxirAD8DBwBpRoUWaHu74MezjUP66ePCaY_gB80NZyvQqIrE0pakauLXFo01PD_9zrM81QbDKXujHOosDgDXaubdWyOfA/s1088/Tim%20Buckley%20Startaailor%20Band.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1088" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzXlb8EkYhEoI9fut4MpRUS2dDElMBDaQRy58WNO2zMYp3o-TikPv1nGhv0tYFhtrg65ZDhhWawQUH4QpckwlRndzh7KxirAD8DBwBpRoUWaHu74MezjUP66ePCaY_gB80NZyvQqIrE0pakauLXFo01PD_9zrM81QbDKXujHOosDgDXaubdWyOfA/w200-h199/Tim%20Buckley%20Startaailor%20Band.jpg" width="200" /></a>
</div>
Tim Buckley-STARSAILOR BAND FIRST GIG, OCTOBER 1970 LION'S SHARE SAN
ANSELMO SAN FRANCISCO CD-r burn</b>
</div>
<div>
<b><br /></b>
</div>
<div>
I believe that some of this was sent by Mr. Fadensonnen as part of a
general smattering of <b>STARSAILOR</b> material done up live, but
this is the entire debut of that infamous bout of career suicide on
Buckley's part that continues to amaze...well at least continues to
amaze me. It's not hard to imagine what Buckley's old fans thought of
his one-and-a-half avgarde albums but fie on them anyway because this is
a fine slice of 60s/70s cusp cataclysm music every bit as important as
all of those sonic screams for a true sanity that we've all been
rah-rahing for ages. One listen and you'll know why Buckley ended up on
Straight Records...that was supposed to be a tax write off and really,
what honest to goodness Boone's Farm hippie would ever go for this! Bad part, my copy stops right smack dab
in the middle of the second version of "Come Here Woman"!
</div><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<div>
<b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqL_H5_OFD_2mi1rmcW2IqUj7B7Mu2re44a1JADnZq7by3C4Kst4czjBCJigLob6ylw3b8ZekV9GQYvZtpjpSwFJ-z8r434OUKhsJ5pE6oGbsGNAnh4objLH041TItLJfbAgB8B-_idGfsX0xWgbaUxIXjVgEizBgOKaUC5aZY6Cqnt6xmldoV-Q/s890/Lucia.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="890" data-original-width="882" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqL_H5_OFD_2mi1rmcW2IqUj7B7Mu2re44a1JADnZq7by3C4Kst4czjBCJigLob6ylw3b8ZekV9GQYvZtpjpSwFJ-z8r434OUKhsJ5pE6oGbsGNAnh4objLH041TItLJfbAgB8B-_idGfsX0xWgbaUxIXjVgEizBgOKaUC5aZY6Cqnt6xmldoV-Q/w198-h200/Lucia.jpg" width="198" /></a>
</div>
Lucia Dlugoszewski-DISPARATE STAIRWAY RADICAL OTHER CD-r burn
(originally on New World Records)</b>
</div>
<div>
<b><br /></b>
</div>
<div>
There are so many of these twentieth-century avgarde composers to keep
track of that even a person well-versed in the genre would find it a
hassle to keep up with 'em all. For me it's really pick 'n choose because, for the
life of me, I find some of these composers radically brilliant while
others seem to be taking the same ol' Schoenberg and Varese moves milking
'em as if they were at a La Leche convention. Sad to say that I find
Dlugoszweski to fit into the latter category, as there's really nothing
here that moves my inner being (ooooh!) like a forties-vintage John Cage
piano piece or some out of left field Nam June Paik performance put on.
Even the idea of the "timbre piano" doesn't tend to flib my jib which is
saying something considering my interest in "prepared" instrumentation
of all sorts. Guess I'll have to turn in my beret and stale doritos and
go back to being the outside-the-outkids doof that I've been and will
probably remain for the rest of my life.
</div><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<div><br /></div>
<div>
<b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-BSYP5xQo5DAy2Fp-IElispWR-ACV_GE3W8A8D1KuPzZJaJjuhxjOIP4RgyWBj10GzXMoxuzTBh4A7ZVxG28__4NbIZCRn_of_1ORSNhNuIy1uZtkXL2KexBG_l60oHk8EJOwlT7kNhiU6rqE8ZWhdjgwJUyWN-b3v8Zr_5zcLwV9gozLIOcZCw/s1080/Blue%20Cheer%20Family%20Dog.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1011" data-original-width="1080" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-BSYP5xQo5DAy2Fp-IElispWR-ACV_GE3W8A8D1KuPzZJaJjuhxjOIP4RgyWBj10GzXMoxuzTBh4A7ZVxG28__4NbIZCRn_of_1ORSNhNuIy1uZtkXL2KexBG_l60oHk8EJOwlT7kNhiU6rqE8ZWhdjgwJUyWN-b3v8Zr_5zcLwV9gozLIOcZCw/w200-h188/Blue%20Cheer%20Family%20Dog.jpg" width="200" /></a>
</div>
Blue Cheer-1968 LIVE FAMILY DOG, DENVER CD-r burn</b>
</div>
<div>
<b><br /></b>
</div>
<div>
And I thought the Family Dog was in San Francisco! Well, that's a new
one on me! The Cheer blasting it so loud and hard that you can't even
hear 'em singing! Oh well, this is probably how everyone in the
audience that day heard it, before they all heard
<u style="font-style: italic;">nothing</u> that is. Not so
long (maybe fifteen minutes or so) but it has a rather good riffed up
jam as well as "Doctor Please" on it.
</div>
<div><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote></div>
<div>
<b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyVN2m2XD85RzqLQC7WYPoGd-sgRLnjY2lnyrG3dQnOeyxNo0l4kP2TwDMwYUlWrgrpnqaPY975Pk-bMp2Md2lOGUNOUIaCLt9WY6SVNgcIvmbyM8PDgIMTvfz24FPuFEMHSAk1XBPfKnxVafQqSZQ9KS8ku8nx6Vj4okMY0UD-IDx0rxQ9JvrtQ/s1280/Sun%20Ra%20hague.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyVN2m2XD85RzqLQC7WYPoGd-sgRLnjY2lnyrG3dQnOeyxNo0l4kP2TwDMwYUlWrgrpnqaPY975Pk-bMp2Md2lOGUNOUIaCLt9WY6SVNgcIvmbyM8PDgIMTvfz24FPuFEMHSAk1XBPfKnxVafQqSZQ9KS8ku8nx6Vj4okMY0UD-IDx0rxQ9JvrtQ/s320/Sun%20Ra%20hague.jpg" width="320" /></a>
</div>
Sun Ra Arkestra-THE HAGUE NORTH SEA JAZZ FESTIVAL 7/14/79 2-CD-r
set</b>
</div>
<div>
<b><br /></b>
</div>
<div>
Eh, t'aint the best live Arkestra offering out there. Ra's getting
perhaps a little too far into his Big Band roots for at least my tastes,
maybe not yours either but who knows? One for those of you who've heard
the rest and want a li'l topper.
</div>
<div><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote></div>
<div>
<b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzwf21Xoilqn35h3OA74d2j8z9pANGDa5X_M198QzbonbEAzQgxZRvvGu7sxHJFXvmzrJRHpy0iAoYO8IKa_N9LDcHlDfGsONGsYV0f503t74Dr0jyWLXdN-l1uDIcn7Wa9GWbTa8Z5a4qqgXhjvWdk4EUFGQJBDU7nh2hzEfjbOgWQwgYAkGLAg/s1392/At%20The%20Hop!.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1380" data-original-width="1392" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzwf21Xoilqn35h3OA74d2j8z9pANGDa5X_M198QzbonbEAzQgxZRvvGu7sxHJFXvmzrJRHpy0iAoYO8IKa_N9LDcHlDfGsONGsYV0f503t74Dr0jyWLXdN-l1uDIcn7Wa9GWbTa8Z5a4qqgXhjvWdk4EUFGQJBDU7nh2hzEfjbOgWQwgYAkGLAg/w200-h198/At%20The%20Hop!.jpg" width="200" /></a>
</div>
Various Artists-AT THE HOP! 2-LP set (Brookeville Records)</b>
</div>
<div>
<b><br /></b>
</div>
<div>
What happens when budget oldies collections no longer serve the purpose
of their original owners who have possessed such platters since the
heyday of misplaced seventies nostalgia? Why, they're given to
<u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">ME</u> as this
double duty collection of various blasts from the dawn of the big beat
(or something like that) ultimately proves.
</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>
Actually this isn't a bad sampling of previous transistor triumphs even
if it is somewhat incongruous, what with the like of Little Eva and the
Music Machine being included in the same package 'n all. Well, those platters
peddled on afternoon television never were known to just stick to one distinct theme other'n to cram together whatever there was available for Morris
Levy to peddle to the kids watching
<b>GILLIGAN'S ISLAND</b> reruns. Still, <b>AT THE HOP!</b> does
collect some beauts such as the Beach Boys' "Surfin'", the Surfaris'
"Wipe Out" and the Fendermen's "Mule Skinner Blues" which (at least for
me) was one record that seemed nigh on impossible to latch onto in the
history of serious record shop, garage sale and flea market scouring!
</div><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<div>
<b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj84Gl-DjPSZhghqKmoAMHPyY4CpWxbjFb6UhyphenhyphenzXv3aRfVm4zNpnUiU6TEEaKpuXWwF01IUAiRkTt_JKqBg_zPOpptsGsiwn_atgpAiUsjcWSgR1ogSzKNfdekEYIuH0b_VdElOwMUws9La4CdO6bmtb2h_vdn1KqZlevC8kf57zgThf4sTJmZhCQ/s637/American%20Primitive.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="597" data-original-width="637" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj84Gl-DjPSZhghqKmoAMHPyY4CpWxbjFb6UhyphenhyphenzXv3aRfVm4zNpnUiU6TEEaKpuXWwF01IUAiRkTt_JKqBg_zPOpptsGsiwn_atgpAiUsjcWSgR1ogSzKNfdekEYIuH0b_VdElOwMUws9La4CdO6bmtb2h_vdn1KqZlevC8kf57zgThf4sTJmZhCQ/w200-h188/American%20Primitive.jpg" width="200" /></a>
</div>
Various Artists-AMERICAN PRIMITIVE Volumes 1 and 2 CD-r burns
(Revenant Records)</b>
</div>
<div><br /></div><div>Believe it or leave it, but I really do hate writing about these old folk/blues collections that have been cluttering up many a record collection for more years than I can even remember. It's probably because I'm oh-so-self-conscious about myself and just don't wanna look like I'm even
<b><i><u>remotely</u></i></b> coming off like one of the reams of upper crust white
college-bred music scribes we've all seen for ages who seem to devour this stuff with a haughtiness that might even put your Aunt Petunia to shame. Y'know, the kid (or aging precursor from the glory days of the New Left) who
used to, and probably still does, slobber and drool over just about
anything that has an abundance of melanin in it if only for the sake of doing just that even though said scribe might convince himself otherwise. After all, someone out there has to keep that "we are
all one people" schtick going even longer than most observers out there would have thought humanly possible, right?</div><div><br /></div><div>When I
think about those kinda people I tend to conjure up some pretty accurate visions
of what I would call a <b>WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE CLASS OF '64</b> born and bred bowl of mush --- skinny wire-rimmed seventies/eighties longhairs (neat looking well trimmed longhairs at that) who are still around and look quite the same albeit with wrinkles and white hair wearing sports jackets with patches on the
sleeves and sweaters underneath 'em even on the hottest days of the year. Social Anthropology majors who actually were able to get a job with their degree. The kind who used to watch <b>SUNSHINE</b> and <b>THE PAPER CHASE</b> on television and actually oozed some warm 'n toasties outta 'em while sneering at the <b>HAWAII FIVE-O </b>crowd for being so --- I dunno --- <b><i>violent? </i></b>Probably got some physical
disability as well. The kind who can't help but bring up they were conscientious objectors during the Vietnam War whether you wanted to hear so or not. Read Ellen Willis. Males who, when reviewing such items, come off more
like they're apologizing for being white which seems to be that original
sin imposed upon ultra-guilt riddled WASP-y types who couldn't find a
black musician to hate even if he were to cave his head in for some drug money. </div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>
Being Vinnie Virtuous these days can get a body far, and in no way will
I ever do that old humble bumble act like the one where that guy who
owns Chick-Fil-A went and polished some black guy's shoes acting oh so
contrite about something he was never guilty of in the first place. So
feel a whole lot surprised when I tell you that I find these early pre
WW II gospel blues pretty snat even though it certainly ain't because
I'm gonna do a whole lotta groveling to atone for past transgressions
real or imaginary. I'm doing it because this is fine enough raw music
that, like those one-string guitar efforts I reviewed way back,
resonates because it is raw and crackly and thus fits in with the state
of my nervous system the same way Suicide and Can do, even if for the
life of me I doubt I'll ever listen to this collection again.
</div>
<div>
<b><br /></b>
</div>
<div>
Big surprise---Eddie Head and his Family's "Down On Me" which is the
same song Big Brother and the Holding Company used to do, only this
version comes off better if only because the (original) lyrics are more
deadly and therefore truthful. Walter Taylor's "Deal Rag" sure sounds
good because it
<u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">wasn</u><i style="font-weight: bold;">'</i><u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">t</u> done up by
some hippies on a Marin County front porch thus hitting the spot a whole
lot more'n Pepsi ever did. Sheesh, at least Peter Laughner knew how to
sing this stuff probably because his own frayed nervous system was way
more in tune with this breed of down home folk than most refugees from a
high school hootenanny's ever were!
</div>
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<br />Great hypno-drone to "You Better Quit Drinking Shine" by Rev. L.B.
Ware and I should be thankful that the 1897-vintage "Poor Mourner" by
Cousins and DeMoss isn't some early take on the various folk duos of the
sixties like Simon and Garfunkel or Brewer and Shipley. And to get
downright frightening about it, Rev. Edward Clayborn's "This Time Next
Year You May Be Gone" is one track I sure hope doesn't manifest itself
into my destiny I'll tell ya! Other people's yeah but not me that's for
sure!!!
</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>
And whatever Tommy Settlers' doing on "Big Bed Bug (Red Bed Bug)" it
sure sounds like I could use some of the "inspiration" that he must have
partook in before recording such a whacked out toon such as that!
</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>
Three disques that just might make you wanna listen to something other'n
the usual new flash, that is if they still have new flashes anymore. And although I sincerely doubt it, I do hope to high hog heaven that in no way in this review did I come
off like some precious petunia of a "rock critic" who probably
learned about music by watching Ken Burns documentaries and nothing
else! You might think I come across as a low class jerkoff "poseur" type as Amy Gelman might have put it, but then again do I really care what any of you think about me anymore?<br /><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<p>
Gee you'd think there'd be a thousand or two rock-mad, mouth-frothing
life-loathing individuals out there who would be just more than
willing to buy up these <a href="https://black2com.blogspot.com/2023/02/what-do-all-these-creatures-have-in.html">back issues of <b>BLACK TO COMM</b></a> at what I would call a rather accelerated rate. But I guess
there ain't, although <u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">YOU</u> readers would sure do yourselves good by picking up a stack or two. Try a few and see if your
hatred of "the other" as they say doesn't just grow by leaps and
bounds, like it should.</p></div>
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Christopher Stiglianohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17107248034597839482noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6910067.post-86719656236830992712024-01-03T10:47:00.001-05:002024-01-20T08:48:03.516-05:00<p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0E-v1UQ3maeyi0ywjsWGRzymWDzBQksrhu2qEmK9jlmniACYENrrVM0vt_IqXzesl76495cV-zgE3N0_2uBqZFNuJnxeOkwYhz0cXhSplp4sibYvVpUpFRrrIxINu2GLcEw_5-iEN_IndlqZtPbTqHiYgAIiJFMv2EScfLwM8lVfTIB8Yos77CQ/s704/Pin-Ups%201972.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="704" data-original-width="474" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0E-v1UQ3maeyi0ywjsWGRzymWDzBQksrhu2qEmK9jlmniACYENrrVM0vt_IqXzesl76495cV-zgE3N0_2uBqZFNuJnxeOkwYhz0cXhSplp4sibYvVpUpFRrrIxINu2GLcEw_5-iEN_IndlqZtPbTqHiYgAIiJFMv2EScfLwM8lVfTIB8Yos77CQ/w269-h400/Pin-Ups%201972.png" width="269" /></a></b></span></div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>BOOK REVIEW! <i>PIN-UPS 1972 --- THIRD GENERATION ROCK 'N' ROLL</i> BY PETER STANFIELD (Reaktion Books Ltd., 2022)</b></span><p></p><p>First there was Elvis and then the Beatles. After that came the Third Generation. But what exactly was it that separated this new (and perhaps <u style="font-style: italic;">last</u>) era in rock 'n roll from the mode of the music that came before? Some like Metal Mike Saunders would say that this new generation was part and parcel to the downer groove not only in music but life, the hard edged thud that was being produced by the likes of Black Sabbath not to mention Grand Funk Railroad and other practitioners of the metallic groove that mirrors youthful depression so magnificently. Peter Stanfield, however, begs to differ --- somewhat. </p><p>In this tome for the times (the times being the early-seventies that is), Stanfield dishes out his own take on a musical era that some might have called a total washout in the history of music (which it was) but others like Stanfield believe was one of the more engrossing, vibrant eras in that monster we call rock 'n roll (which it was as well). That is, if you think rock 'n roll <u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">is</u> music but anyway this is a hotcha historical (re)vision regarding those highs in the early-seventies that were sorta looked upon as the swan dive into the mung after the huge rush of sixties sounds seemed to make everyone under thirty mad with the Big Beat. As time crept on a whole load of people began to look upon them days with rather rose-colored rear view mirrors, and after reading this book I'm sure many of you readers will understand why.</p><p>Maybe Stanfield is making too much of a stretch beginning his book with the doings of one Mick Farren, a guy who may have been a big if incendiary name over in Merrie Olde but hardly rated a ripple o'er here in the boonies. But eh, this book's devoted to the English side of things, a time when the best moments of the sixties (talking the early-Who, Velvets, Troggs...) gave way to the new guard and a really swinging London where expats such as Lou Reed, Iggy Pop and the Flamin' Groovies settled down adding an extra <u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">oomph</u><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"> </span>to an era that at least gave people somewhat of a respite from the whole grain Marin County hokesterisms that were emanating from the western portion of these here United States.</p><p>Naturally plenty of space is given to the men who made it <u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">move</u> from Marc and David to Roxy Music's Clockwork Orange future shock (and yeah, even the Clockwork movie worms its way into the narrative) along with the guys and gals (and who could tell 'em apart?) whose fashion sense might have been too glitzy for some peoples' tastes. It sure was a vast improvement over the denim shaggy fringe that epitomized the David Crosby portion of the music scene, and although the laid back trend would continue on in Ameriga for some time well, at least this new era of sonic grog was a welcome relief. Heck, even the Sweet make a hearty appearance in these pages and I'm sure glad that someone is remembering these hitmaking wonders a good five decades after it all came tumbling down and we're still trying to sort out the rubble!</p><p>One nitpick --- Jymn Parrett is Canadian not Amerigan but otherwise Stanfied seems to get his facts straighter 'n some of the musicians he's discussing were!</p><p>You like this blog? You like your old rock papers and mags with all of those flipped out "gonzo" writers who either made you glad or mad? Still have those T. Rex singles snuggled in your collection? Did you get your fashion tips from Lisa Robinson's "Eleganza" column (or, if you were a Clevelander, Charlotte Pressler's "Pizzaz")? Well, this one one book, and perhaps one of the <u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">ONLY</u><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"> </span>ones extant, that will tell you the plain and simple truth that you were right all along!</p>Christopher Stiglianohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17107248034597839482noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6910067.post-9164744970195464852023-12-24T00:06:00.005-05:002024-01-03T13:44:40.830-05:00<p> </p>
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<br />
<p></p>
<p>
As you can tell from the above jolly photo it's Christmas (once again time to
post another one of these Adolf as a natural down home kinda guy who likes
kids and animals pix), and to that let me add a hearty so what! Like I've
already said on most if not all of my holiday posts these past twentysome
years (pardon my redundancy but you guys <i>need</i> to be reminded), has Christmas really meant
<i style="font-weight: bold;">anything</i> ever since them days when kids
actually appreciated getting them toys because they didn't have everything
tossed at 'em like they do these sad 'n sorry times? And with alla them "in
service" days and placate the ethnics holidays that we have (I mean, what big
deal is Columbus discovering Ameriga anyway? --- I know, you thought I was gonna pick on Martin Luther King and Juneteenth!) even Christmas vacation really
doesn't seem to be that much to roar over like it usedta. Them kids today need
some real good
<u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">LIFE</u> and
<u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">FUN</u> tossed at 'em
tho, the kind our parents and grandparents grew up with back when little
things sure meant a whole lot, and no jokes!
</p><p>But well, here I am after quite a spell, and I have a whole load to say so if I come off even more gasbag than usual well, you can always read this post in part and come back to it later. Pardon the long-windedness but like the Monkees I have something to say and if you don't like it well, you can do to me what you've already been doing these past umpteen years!</p>
<p>Otherwise since this is undoubtably going to be the last big deal post of the
year (and perhaps the last post <u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">PERIOD</u>) let me say that I am rather happy to have survived it all. It was a fair
year. Oh, nobody I loathe died or anything else that would make me happy like that, but despite the usual
monkey wrenches tossed into this soft machine I managed to end up feeling
somewhat human throughout it all. That's something I should be at least a
smidgen thankful for. But live through it again? You must be joking!</p>
<blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<p></p>
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I'm only reprinting the above <b>FERD'NAND</b> strip because it reminded me
of the track on Charles Gayle's <b>UNTO I AM</b> where, after singing
whilst playing drums Gayle grabs his tenor and duets on it the same way
Ferd'nand does above, without the bubbles of course.<br />
<blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<p>
I'm so glad that I crawled out from under my rock to discover a rather unique
blog written by some rather talented individual who calls himself Peter
Stanfield (see the roll call directly to your left). Never heard of the man
before (I think his name just wooshed by me since he's been mentioned in
<b>UGLY THINGS</b> a few times and maybe even interviewed in their pages by
someoneorother), but I'm sure glad I stumbled across this 'un, for that particular fanabla pretty much has the same tastes and passion for the type of
sounds and furies that I've been obsessed with for a fairly good portion of
my rather subdued existence. A writer of some stature too with a few books
under his belt (some of them, like <b>THIRD GENERATION ROCK & ROLL</b>,
seem custom made for my own take on this mostly horrid sound they call "rock
music"), Stanfied seems to be one guy who knows his potatoes, and while I'm positive that he 'n I would get into a massive row had
we been locked together in the same cage his maddening writing devoted to
everyone and everything in the Velvets/Stooges/Meltzer/younameit realm really
has me scouring his blog whenever I have a little smidgie bit of free time in my life. Plenty of Mick
Farren revelations here not to mention some Lillian Roxon for all you New York
sophisticados and man, it's so refreshing to read someone who can not only
write his way out of an entire supermarket full of paper bags but has the kind
of musical tastes that I love to sink into like a pair of copulating kids in a
vat of tapioca pudding. I'll tell you one thing and that is that I sure wish I
had Stanfield's vast knowledge as well as his writing abilities, but then
again very <b><i><u>very</u> </i></b>few of us are as erudite and as on target as this guy which makes me appreciate him all the more! Worth the while for
each and every one of you to spend some Sunday afternoon crawling through,
especially during these cold 'n wintery days when you'll be hard up
for a whole lotta fun things to do that aren't immoral.
</p>
<blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<p>
Another internet discovery --- a site called
<b>JAY KINNEY'S CLINIC OF CULTURAL COLLISION </b>(see roll call on left as if
you didn't know)<b> </b>which was set up by none other'n the infamous
underground comix creator, fanzine regular and
<b>WHO PUT THE BOMP</b> artistic director Jay Kinney as if you couldn't discern that yourself. I agree with Greg Shaw when he wrote that Kinney was one of the few
undergrounders with a steady hand and a brain to match, which is but one
reason I decided to link his site up and hopefully give it a little more
well-earned (and who knows, perhaps even <i>needed</i>) exposure. This 'un has
everything related to the man from a linking up of his favorite political
websites (surprising choices, especially for horse-blindered extremists like yourself)
as well as some really good examples of his cartooning abilities done for everyone from <b>SCREW</b> to <b>DR.WIRTHAM'S COMIX AND STORIES</b>.
Highly recommended are "Fifth Grade Confidential", "Too Real" and "Dry Ice".
See link at left and don't be surprised if you don't learn something that
you've never wanted to learn before!
</p>
<blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<p>
Also found within the realm of the internet is a Youtube channel that has a
few episodes of the shoulda been legendary television series <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@joesphalexander1900/featured" style="font-weight: bold;">THE GREAT ADVENTURE</a>, a long forgotten rarity which is finally being made available after years of being locked up
in CBS's vaults for whatever reasons there may be (mostly them not being profitable
enough to syndicate). Some of you more ancient readers might remember this show which consisted of re-enactments of various moments in Amerigan history as
portrayed by some of your favorite stars such as Lee Marvin, a guy who was
really busy during the fantastic 1963-64 television (and moom pitcher) season
what with <b>LAWBREAKER</b>,<b> TWILIGHT ZONE</b>,
<b>KRAFT SUSPENSE THEATER</b>, <b>THE KILLERS</b> and this 'un (yes,
I go on IMDB too!). Probably had some hefty gambling debts to pay off as Bill
Shute once surmised. If I'm not mistaken the folk at
<b>AMERICAN HERITAGE</b> were consultants so you know this just ain't
typical tee-vee revisionism (just <i>historical</i> revisionism), that's
for sure!
</p>
<p>
Kinda recall this 'un lighting up the cathode when I was but a mere turdler
but the memories are somewhat fuzzed out. Still, hope the entire series will
be downloaded after years of obscurity if only so I could see the debut
episode about the infamous Civil War submarine the H.L. Hunley, especially
noted for having both Pyles, Jim Nabors <i>and </i>George Lindsay that is, as crewmates on the ill-fated vessel. Gaw-lee!</p>
<blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<p>
I promised no more AI-induced pics on this here blog, and there won't be 'cept
for a few created for posts which might be in need of some pertinent
illustrations. However, the recent conjuring up of an AI Beatles song had me
wonderin' whether or not this trend could be used to create some lost music
that people like us would want to enjoy. Take the Velvet Underground and the
wealth of lost sounds that have reached legendary status at least amidst the
throngs of serious rockists out there. Perhaps if some enterprising soul
could get John Cale and Maureen Tucker to give some input we could finally get
to hear more of those "Sister Ray Part Two"'s that were performed during the
group's spring 1968 tour. Or maybe Iggy could help in the creation of such
lost Stoogian efforts such as "Way Down in Egypt" or those early Hawaiian
guitar screeches that Pop himself compared to the Melvins! Maybe AI can improve on the sound quality of surviving tapes that sound absolutely dreck-y which would really be a boon considering some of the tapes extant that sound like they were recorded within the chasms of Ondine's colon. Who knows what previously lost media could be restored with
the help of this new technology which, so far, has resulted in whacked out
pictures created by doof bloggers such as myself out there if only to get a li'l
notice. Just as long as whoever is involved with these musical projex doesn't
use that same AI I've been using that comes up with all of them whacked out
pics.
</p><p>Another bit of AI fun...asking Bing Chat silly questions and getting earnest if obscure answers in return. One I submitted amounted to something along the line of "is Nancy really the daughter of Fritzi Ritz and is her father black?" while another was pretty much along the same lines..."is Swee Pea really the illegitimate son of Popeye and Olive Oyl?" I was going to ask about Poopeye, Pepeye, Pupeye and Peepeye, not to mention Huey Dewey and Looie and their parentage, but I don't want to press my luck. Still, the answers I get to my put on inquiries are funny if a tad condescending but that ain't gonna stop me from asking whether or not Ralph Monroe from <b>GREEN ACRES</b> ever posed for nude photos!</p>
<blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote><p>Interesting comment from a guy who calls himself "Field Hippy" regarding Jim Goad's next-to-latest <a href="https://counter-currents.com/2023/12/the-punk-rock-roots-of-punching-nazis/">post</a> in <b>COUNTER-CURRENTS</b>:</p><blockquote>The best interview with a rock star I know of is with Johnny Ramone, in the zine <b>BLACK TO COMM</b>, around 1994. What I remember most is his concert-going prowess. Every rock act, you name it, that played in the NYC metro area in the late 60s/early 70s he saw, and many of them multiple times. It was funny that the interviewer stayed diplomatic while Johnny praised the likes of Hendrix, Clapton, and Zeppelin to the skies, with these acts being irrelevant or anathema to the punk aesthetic of the zine. Finally the interviewer laid it on the line and asked Johnny about the Velvet Underground, the interviewer’s by-far favorite band. Johnny laughed and said something like “I’m sure we saw them and heard their records, but it was like, Why? These guys can’t play.” That was really funny considering Johnny’s simple style and that no one would call him a virtuoso. Great sound, though, so he should be remembered like Angus Young or Lemmy of Motorhead.</blockquote>To which I say how come this interview somehow escapes the vast caverns of my mind?<div><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote><p>Interesting (and undoubtedly false) claim made in the first issue of <b>TROUSER PRESS</b>...according to gossip guru Rona Barrett none other than Deviants/Pink Fairies/Lightning Raiders bass guitarist Duncan Sanderson was engaged to onetime Ameriga's Sweetheart Maria Schneider of <b>LAST TANGO IN PARIS</b> fame! Considering how the Pink Fairies used to engage in "sandwich sex" with a certain follower named "Gigi" maybe I can see the attraction. Just hope the bread and meat's well buttered for a rather tasty experience.</p><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote><p></p></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDcsIF5VdooFA7cgqA-XOhdR9VcRcCcr25Mec71oXo9oUg0xiEFZPRw8l3SZXrTqgSHduL5SgvGrsz5oyuMcWZPK7dpzzqmfCvyhHXcBNFJmTw3TCzvQ6-Uwwv0axp7aZRaahnFk5FUlMZdeYugCWXmIau-VnKg4anTXM0ywqfgZlvpz7u6GVIAg/s1417/Faux%20Wood%20Paneling%204.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1417" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDcsIF5VdooFA7cgqA-XOhdR9VcRcCcr25Mec71oXo9oUg0xiEFZPRw8l3SZXrTqgSHduL5SgvGrsz5oyuMcWZPK7dpzzqmfCvyhHXcBNFJmTw3TCzvQ6-Uwwv0axp7aZRaahnFk5FUlMZdeYugCWXmIau-VnKg4anTXM0ywqfgZlvpz7u6GVIAg/s320/Faux%20Wood%20Paneling%204.jpg" width="244" /></a></div>Worth your while's the fourth issue of <b>FAUX WOOD PANELING</b>, the only fanzine left in this world and
there's no exceptions whatsoever to that pure and simple fact! Wade Oberlin
didn't outdo himself with this one and he didn't have to, because each and every
one of these is everything that a self-produced publication venture is supposed
to be. Good personalist musings to be found here as
well as music reviews and things going on here and there in the Southwest
portion of Ohio that you might not have known about or have
<i style="text-align: left;">cared</i><span style="text-align: left;"> about for that matter. But they're here and I'll betcha you'll have more fun reading this than a fourteen-year-old boy locked in a bathroom with the entire run of <b>NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC</b>.</span></div><div><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="text-align: left;">I was surprised to
read a review of the early-forties <b>LI'L ABNER</b> feature for Astor
Studios which I now know enough to avoid given Wade's less than appreciative tone! Well, maybe not given that Buster
Keaton during his height (which to me is that period all them film snobs
<u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">HATE</u>) appears as Hairless
Joe's injun cavemate Lonesome Polecat which should be good for a hoot! I mean, his appearances in forties zilch-grade movies like this and <b>THE VILLIAN STILL PURSUED HER</b> really brightened up some films that otherwise might have been just <i>eh!</i> </span></div><div><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="text-align: left;">Awaiting the arrival of
<b>FAUX WOOD PANELING</b> really is a glorious event here at the
<b>BTC</b> orifices </span></div><div><span style="text-align: left;">and it should be one in your very own fart encrusted
bedroom as well. And Wayne, thank you for the Spud Gun which is neat but given how expensive
food is well, maybe I better put a more economical use to it. One that isn't
disgusting, that is.<blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote><p>You heard it here last...RIP rock writer Jane Suck (a.k.a Jane Solanis and Jane Jackman) who actually passed on last January only I found about it this afternoon. She was one of the better ones, so shed some tears unlike you will when I hit the big record shop in the sky. </p><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<p>
In other news (don't worry Kyoko, I will get to the record reviews more later than sooner!), I thought I had the correct email address in order to get in
touch with onetime Velvet Underground Fan Club head Constantine Radoulovich
who's now residing in Annadale Virginia (cradoulovich@yahoo.com). Radoulovich is a man who I really wanted
to talk about regarding his involvement in the club as well as the planned Velvets
fanzine he had in store back 1971 way, but the email got bounced back to me which I will admit is slightly disappointing. Hey Connie, if you're out there why dontcha get in touch even though I
sincerely doubt you would given the way you've been avoiding people these past
fifty years!
</p>
<blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<p>
I guess if other people out there in computerland can post their fanzine want
lists so can I! Not that I get the inkling that anyone would even know
about any of these mags and if they did they'd figure <i>why bother</i>, but
here goes anyway. If anything, the following will once again prove (just like
my playlist below) just what an erudite, knowledge seeking and totally
on-the-ball music aficionado I am at least making me feel good in the process.
Lowest prices paid for these titles, and (naturally) wonky xerox copies are
more than welcome just as long as they're unreadable:
</p>
<p>
<b>BILGE</b> (rock fanzine from 1972 or so created by "two crazy girls")
</p>
<p>
<b>CHUCKLEHEADS GAZETTE</b> (mid-70s English fanzine with articles on Can
and the Deviants --- probably never got published but who knows?)
</p>
<p>
<b>DAVID'S GIRLS/STAR SPECIAL</b> (Terri Ferris' David Cassidy/glam rock
fanzine --- any issues prior to the one mentioned in <a href="https://black2com.blogspot.com/2016/09/fanzine-fanabla-esoterica-time-im.html">this article</a> are most definitely wanted, or any after if they did indeed make their way into the world of fandom!)
</p>
<p>
<b>GROOVE ASSOCIATES</b> #2 (or any other after #3 if, like in the case
of the fanzine above, they were published)
</p>
<p><b>HYPERION</b>, any prior to their Autumn 1972 issue</p>
<div>
<p>
<b>JUNGLELAND </b>#'s 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 8 (the Scottish mag by that guy
who was later in Oasis, not the Springsteen one)
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p><b>NIX ON PIX</b> #1</p>
</div>
<p>
<b>PANACHE</b> #'s 1 and 2 (these go for bazillions so photocopies would
be acceptable)
</p>
<p><b>SLADE PARADER </b>#s 1 and 2</p>
<p>
<b>SPOONFUL </b>issues #1 and #4 (and any others after that is if ---
well, you know the drill)
</p>
<p><b>TEENAGE NEWS</b> #1 (the one from Montreal, not Hamilton)</p>
<p>
<b>AND OF COURSE XEROXES OF ANY OF THE EARLY SATIRE FANZINES (WILD, JACK HIGH,
SQUIRE, NOPE!...) WOULD BE REAL THRILLING TO THIS FAN OF THE
LATE-FIFTIES/EARLY-SIXTIES HOMEGROWN HUMOR BRIGADE!</b>
</p>
<blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<p>
Okay, this has a few repeats from previous playlists but I think I scoured the
stacks a whole lot more diligently than usual. There's some revisiting of old
friends and who knows, maybe a few old enemies at that. The best thing about
digging into the collection is that, since my mind is such a sieve, a whole
lotta these sound like brand new never before heard offerings to me! What a
great way to save money especially in these inflation-laden times!!!:
</p>
<p>
<b>Loren Conners-UNACCOMPANIED ACOUSTIC GUITAR INSTRUMENTALS, VOL. 1 LP
(Feeding Tube Records)</b>
</p>
<p><b></b></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>Frank Lowe Quartet-OUT LOUD 2-CD-r set (originally on Triple Point
Records)</b>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>Various Artists-ONE STRING BLUES MASTERS CD (Delta Cat Records)</b>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>Gavin Bryars & Christopher Hobbs-ENSEMBLE PIECES CD (GB Records)</b>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>MEET THE RESIDENTS LP (Ralph Records)</b>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>Pink Floyd-THE MIDAS TOUCH LP (Wizardo Records bootleg)</b>
</div>
<p>
<b>John Cage/Kenneth Patchen-THE CITY WEARS A SLOUCH HAT CD (Organ of Corti
Records)</b>
</p>
<p>
<b>John Cage-MUSIC FOR KEYBOARD 1935-1948 2-CD set (Sony International
Records, Japan)</b>
</p>
<p>
<b>John Lennon-COLLEGE EXPERIMENTAL SOUND PROJECT - THE EXPERIMENTAL VIRGINITY
CD (Canadian bootleg)</b>
</p>
<p>
<b>Lennon/Ono-ALTERNATIVE TORONTO MIX AND MORE... CD (Goblin Records bootleg,
Australia)</b>
</p>
<p>
<b>The Beatles-WHAT A SHAME MARY JANE HAD A PAIN AT THE PARTY 12-inch single
(no label bootleg)</b>
</p>
<p>
<b>Quicksilver Messenger Service-LIVE IN SAN JOSE LP (Groucho Records
bootleg)</b>
</p>
<p>
<b>Wizzard-MASTERS OF ROCK VOL. 11 LP (EMI/Harvest Records,
Germany)</b>
</p>
<p>
<b>Boy Dirt Car-HEATRIG CD (Koala Foreskin Retraction Records, Australia)</b>
</p>
<p>
<b>D.O.A. THE THIRD AND FINAL REPORT OF THROBBING GRISTLE CD (Mute
Records)</b>
</p>
<p>
<b>Art & Language & the Red Crayola-CORRECTED SLOGANS CD (Drag City
Records)</b>
</p>
<p><b>Ornette Coleman-SKIES OF AMERICA CD (Sony Records, Japan)</b></p>
<p>
<b>Les Rallizes Denudes-CABLE HOGUE SOUNDTRACK 2-CD set (Univive Records,
Japan)</b>
</p>
<p><b>Gary Wilson-MUSIC FOR PIANO LP (Feeding Tube Records)</b></p>
<p><b>Can-UNLIMITED EDITION 2-LP set (Harvest Records, Germany)</b></p>
<p><b>The Flamin' Groovies-'70 LP (Eva Records, France)</b></p>
<p>
<b>Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention-MEAT LOVERS VOLUME 2 7-inch 33 rpm
EP (Hoffman Records bootleg)</b>
</p>
<p><b>GROUP INERANE CD (Sublime Frequencies Records)</b></p>
<p>
<b>Crawlspace-SPHEREALITY CD (Sympathy For The Record Industry Records)</b>
</p>
<p>
<b>Various Artists-THE EARLY SOUNDS OF GARAGE ROCK 2-CD set (Not Now
Records)</b>
</p>
<p><b>Smegma-MIRAGE CD (Important Records)</b></p>
<p><b>Siouxsie and the Banshees-THE SCREAM CD (Geffen Records)</b></p>
<p>
<b>Various Artists-MOBILISATION GENERALE CD (Diggers Digest Records,
France)</b>
</p>
<p><b>James Chance and the Contortions-WHITE CANNIBAL CD (ROIR Records)</b></p>
<p>
<b>John Fahey-THE LEGEND OF BLIND JOE DEATH CD (Takoma Records, England)</b>
</p>
<p>
<b>Sanctum-NEW YORK CITY BLUSTER LIVE AT CBGB's CD (no label but of Swedish
origin)</b>
</p>
<p><b>Various Artists-THE HARVEST BAG LP (EMI/Harvest, Spain)</b></p>
<p><b>Frank Zappa-ROAD MUSIC #1/1 LP (bootleg)</b></p>
<p><b>CLUSTER AND ENO LP (Sky Records, Germany)</b></p>
<p><b>Iggy Pop-ZOMBIE BIRDHOUSE LP (Animal Records)</b></p>
<p><b>Love Child-OKAY! LP (Homestead Records)</b></p>
<p><b>Tuli Kupferberg-TULI AND FRIENDS LP (Shimmy Disc Records)</b></p>
<p><b>The Red Crayola-LIVE 1967 2-CD set (Drag City Records)</b></p>
<p>
<b>The Red Crayola-PARABLE OF ARABLE LAND 2-CD set (Charly/Snapper Records,
England)</b>
</p>
<p>
<b>GOD BLESS THE RED KRAYOLA AND ALL WHO SAIL WITH IT CD (Charly/Snapper
Record, England)</b>
</p>
<p>
<b>Frank Zappa-FREAKS AND MOTHERFUCKERS LP (Swingin' Pig Records bootleg)</b>
</p>
<p><b>Richard Landry-A FIRST QUARTER LP (Chatham Square Records)</b></p>
<p>
<b>Frank Zappa-PIGS 'N' REPUGNANT 2-CD set (Vulture Records bootleg, Italy)</b>
</p>
<p><b>Spirogyra-ST. RADIGUNDS CD (Repertoire Records, Germany)</b></p>
<p><b>The Cramps-1976 DEMO SESSIONS LP (bootleg)</b></p><p><b>Can-OPENER LP (Sunset Records, England)</b></p><p><b>Tangerine Dream-ALPHA CENTAURI/ATEM 2-LP set (Virgin Records, England)</b></p><p><b>The Necros/White Flag-JAIL JELLO 12-inch EP (Gasatanka Records)</b></p><p><b>The Thirteenth Floor Elevators-ELEVATORS LIVE LP (Decal Records, England)</b></p><p><b>The Sonics-UNRELEASED LP (First American Records)</b></p><p><b>KRAFTWERK 1/KRAFTWERK 2 CDs (Germanofon Records, Germany)</b></p><p><b>Bern Nix/Sabir Mateen/Jeff Shurdut's Impossible Beauty Trio Orchestra-THE DREAM OF A RIDICULOUS MAN CD-r burn (No Label Record Label)</b></p><p><b>John Cage-WORKS FOR PERCUSSION Volumes 1 and 2 CDs (Hungaroton Records, Hungary)</b></p><p><b>EIN PRODUKT DER DEUTSCH-AMERIKANISCHEN FREUNDSCHAFT CD (Bureau B Records, Germany)</b></p><p><b>Sunny Murray-SUNSHINE CD (Sunspots Records, Italy)</b></p><p><b>Charles "Bobo" Shaw featuring Joseph Bowie & the Human Arts Ensemble-P*NK J*ZZ LP (Muse Records)</b></p><p><b>John McLaughlin-DEVOTION LP (Douglas Records)</b></p><p><b>Amy Sheffer-SANCTUARY MINE LP (Iamshee Records)</b></p><p><b>Velvet Underground-1966 LP (bootleg)</b></p><p><b>15 Kinder and Peter Brotzmann, Fred von Hove, Han Bennick-FREE JAZZ UND KINDER LP (Tochnit Aleph Records, Germany)</b></p><p><b>Edgar Broughton Band-DEMONS AT THE BEEB CD (Hux Records, England)</b></p>
<blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<p>
Time for them reviewz what get a good portion of my readership tuning in, at
least when compared to my various book review and other "weekday" posts. Got
quite a few donations, one from P.D. Fadensonnen that I got last Christmas but
only now found in the rubble that is my bedroom and some from Paul McGarry and
maybe even Robert Forward if only I find the time (and the disques)!
Feeding Tube even sent a spinner which must prove that I am a man of
importance and worth, or something like that because I don't think I'm either! One of the items up for scrutiny is (now get this!) a Brad Kohler Christmas gift, and if you can guess which I'll send you absolutely nothing! Hope you find a whole load of
good hints as to what you should be spending your Christmas gift moolah on
here but if you don't well, what <i>else </i>is new?</p>
<p>
<b>Hawkwind-SPACE RITUAL 10-CD plus Blu-Ray box set (Atomhenge Records,
England)</b>
</p>
<p></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOt7qsWoyw14oGH6MtHFcPcJTh5PPZcQPX7IOEGbn03T4sp-fZpUeqH16k9E6zlN6GLhQKmLexLawPUtrOOJOgP6nP6qt36NsHBlgC9WJwI9h4X8zlCoMvgvix_rNLJwCPEzk2qX2IUAaJ9CfsT_oMuOJorMUqutpP3lGlfaNgSZacVRUbQkYrJQ/s500/stacia.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOt7qsWoyw14oGH6MtHFcPcJTh5PPZcQPX7IOEGbn03T4sp-fZpUeqH16k9E6zlN6GLhQKmLexLawPUtrOOJOgP6nP6qt36NsHBlgC9WJwI9h4X8zlCoMvgvix_rNLJwCPEzk2qX2IUAaJ9CfsT_oMuOJorMUqutpP3lGlfaNgSZacVRUbQkYrJQ/s320/stacia.jpg" width="320" /></a>
</div>
Hey, I'm such a generous guy that I even bought <b><i>myself</i></b> a Christmas present as if any of <i style="font-weight: bold;"><u>YOU</u> </i><span>ever </span>would
think of doing just that! But really, is this worth the money and bother to
purchase given, in five years, there's probably going to be an even newer version that'll put
even this multidisque monstrosity to shame?
<p></p>
<p>
Well the answer is
<u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">YES</u> even if you
already have each and every other <b>SPACE RITUAL</b> reissue extant.
First off, how do you know that you'll even
<u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">BE</u><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"> </span>alive five
years from now and besides, this box set is so good not only due to the space
age sound and previously unheard material but because of the hotcha booklet
and other niceties enclosed. Yup, this'll make you so happy you hung around
long enough to enjoy this throbbing batch of electronic space music the way it
was supposed to be done --- that is, without all the frilly Tolkien puff and
prog rock preen that only took away rather than added to the entire rock
appreciation mode so needed not only then but now!
</p>
<p>
OK, I will admit that only the more serious of us Hawkwind fans will enjoying
sitting through ten platters (one more if you have Blu-Ray) of shows taken
from the same tour and recorded within days of each other but hey, I don't
mind. I can listen to these tracks over and over and not only that, but there
are some minute differences that will undoubtedly catch your ears and like,
you don't hafta listen to this all in one sitting like I'm doing!
</p>
<p>
I never thought, ever since I first saw that pair of squeezies on the cover
starin' at me from the racks of the National Record Mart at the Eastwood
Mall, that <b>SPACE RITUAL</b> would eventually worm its way not only
into my collection but my crazed out brain as well. Fifty years down the hatch
and it perhaps has even <i>more</i> of an overall smashed against the
walls effect on me. And like well, I know I've grown and "matured" since then
but sheesh, it's sure fantastic that the better moments of seventies
under-the-underground decadent hard-edged sounds continue to live on, at least
within my beyond addled mind.
</p>
<blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<p><b></b></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsW8KktOb25urQ3ba6rNApaxS8yma2JgnZF_TBc8uI0n5Xu7-YzM7bnrEbwjocUoIiPWGXXjHgWtZkexXPCXSg6oAXT2cD90nNRS6JazSr5KI2ei1zMSGK8GuQQxDpp8my3b9fN9IaWzOQuRIUFMRyu7ptgjZXYyC8qVgjP-9wX3L646hkr8qIsw/s2048/Melted%20Men.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsW8KktOb25urQ3ba6rNApaxS8yma2JgnZF_TBc8uI0n5Xu7-YzM7bnrEbwjocUoIiPWGXXjHgWtZkexXPCXSg6oAXT2cD90nNRS6JazSr5KI2ei1zMSGK8GuQQxDpp8my3b9fN9IaWzOQuRIUFMRyu7ptgjZXYyC8qVgjP-9wX3L646hkr8qIsw/w200-h200/Melted%20Men.jpg" width="200" /></a></b>
</div>
<b>Melted Men-JAW GUZZI LP (Feeding Tube Records)</b>
<p></p>
<p>
"Fontana Mix" goes rhumba. Or something like that, but this (9th release from
these guys) takes the dada soundsplats heard on many of these Feeding Tube
efforts to its usual (?) conclusion and what a conclusion it is! Try to
imagine "Revolution 9" covered by Smegma --- well, not as good as that but
still fine. Worth it for more than just the side "A" label showing a snake
suckling from a cow. If you've been in on the Feeding Tube lifeline since its
inception I'm sure you'll be able to comprehend, and you can dance to it as
well!
</p>
<blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<p>
<b>Les Rallizes Denudes-BAUS '93 CD-r burn (originally on The Last One/Tuff
Beats Records)</b>
</p>
<p></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirc07qjFTyO-TWcT8FHyh5ypAAJkISZsvBevXNuYNW0lCd_g-QUKPN0MDxM4LZlJY7JOjsus5ybbEYMagQHTvM6nAuUrXOgPQuqAvQ_8pDgtISd5lUadX3oDkrtT492DbKZ0HmSaB3lIfKZplKVqpcOSVZ5jlJ1D6nFdKVr_1qhXV_N5NntYO7cA/s1200/Baus%2093.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirc07qjFTyO-TWcT8FHyh5ypAAJkISZsvBevXNuYNW0lCd_g-QUKPN0MDxM4LZlJY7JOjsus5ybbEYMagQHTvM6nAuUrXOgPQuqAvQ_8pDgtISd5lUadX3oDkrtT492DbKZ0HmSaB3lIfKZplKVqpcOSVZ5jlJ1D6nFdKVr_1qhXV_N5NntYO7cA/w200-h200/Baus%2093.jpg" width="200" /></a>
</div>
The 90s-vintage Denudes sounded downright pro when compared to those distorted
seventies live outings, or at least they did until those blasts of feedback
proved that things are relatively quite the same and I shouldn't worry about the
group adapting to the sick 'n sorry times one bit!
<div><br /></div>
<div>
As far as I can tell this is an all new ne'er before released recording and as what else can I say other'n it's sure up front,
powerful and a welcome addition to the throngs of Rallizes releases that
have made their way to my ears these past twentysome years.
</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>
You get familiarities like "Night of the Assassin" and "Fallin' Love With"
sounding as nervegrind as ever even with the improved sound techniques, and you'll definitely go for the two newies (at least to my ears) "Reapers of the Night" and
<u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">ESPECIALLY</u> "Darkness Returns" with its standard use of the familiar '70s-era
downward riff mode taken to even more maddening heights as Mizutani takes his
guitar into territory I never heard from even him before! Comes off like a
grittier re-arranged version of Hawkwind's "Down Through The Night" that you
never want to end! Definite must-get if you have any moolah left after
splurging on the <b>SPACE RITUAL</b> set.<br />
<blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<p></p>
<p><b>Anthony Braxton-LIVE OCTOBER 25, 1969 PARIS CD-r burn</b></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b>
</div>
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</div>
Dunno if this live b-cast has ever been issued either legit like or as a
boot, but Youtube got it 'n it's there for you. It's the classic late-sixties Braxton
band line up with Leroy Jenkins, Steve McCall and Leo Smith, and I wish I
could tell you more about the whys and wherefores but I have nothing to go
on. You know what these guys are gonna be up to so why bother with the
re-rehash --- loose heavily percussion-laden AACM-styled
remake/remodel of the Great Black Music. This is perhaps a bit more
"classical" than the Art Ensemble but it still swings in its own new thing
fashion. Whoever sells contrabass clarinets oughta give Braxton some cash
the way he helped popularize the thing!
</div>
<p></p>
<blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<p>
<b>Embryo-ROCKSESSION CD-r burn (originally on Brain Records, Germany)</b>
</p>
<p></p>
<p>
<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLAk8aE8o0m6KwB7OhoCOodfiCegvvmC661ZsHyiBjHiVl_jgVDmMHK-jlJz_gNl2MQfEJ33nlcdYHLK783tEoZ-obp-9L9nZ7gUg7vVl8GHN9pgXOFQAZnTmiUpoREoK40TXfmEIvblUz5zb3-P9cEp1dNQuKcJf5g2cre107Ck-8xolOuglH8A/s947/rocksession.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="947" data-original-width="935" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLAk8aE8o0m6KwB7OhoCOodfiCegvvmC661ZsHyiBjHiVl_jgVDmMHK-jlJz_gNl2MQfEJ33nlcdYHLK783tEoZ-obp-9L9nZ7gUg7vVl8GHN9pgXOFQAZnTmiUpoREoK40TXfmEIvblUz5zb3-P9cEp1dNQuKcJf5g2cre107Ck-8xolOuglH8A/w198-h200/rocksession.png" width="198" /></a></b>These guys are probably the krautrock group that I'm the most unfamiliar
with outside of Popul Vuh, a group of whom I own exactly zero recordings. I
own Embryo's Ohr debut which gave us a radically different band with a
totally different style than what these guys became best known for in the
annals of import bins, but other'n that I'm a rather sniveling neophyte when
it comes too all of their albums that came out on United Artists and Brain. So this burn courtesy of Paul McGarry sure helps out swell, and from even one listen to this it's obvious that Embryo's idea of fusioin was perhaps closer to Miles Davis's than Chick Corea's and for that we better be thankful!
</p>
<p>
You could call it standard seventies jazz somewhere to the left of Return to
Forever with a few stops on the corner and you might be right. But only
halfway there given the strong essence of Teutonic glow that exudes passion
in the violin and guitar lines. Yeah it might not get me hankerin' to seek
out the rest of the Embryo catalog but t'was a nice backdrop to a sunny if
cool Autumn afternoon.
</p>
<blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<p><b></b></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>NEEF 23 EP CD-r burn (originally on Independent Project
Records/Iridescence Records)</b>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOpWJ7_AAmGJ_5tlSg4RkekJ4JksPkH1itVCzUixxmnMf4xzxC9hbS8FipefOmj3v4CW6Bnm-Zoqagr-7d_dgbn8unWXEY8IirpQzxKe_-M7zzDdBiiLxYF5SDLetxbAIuH2jchnP6U03mo-kWO9UyQDD5Q7v9ZfSFR5wsM-XiVsphSBqpwW8Xeg/s457/Neef%2023.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="457" data-original-width="452" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOpWJ7_AAmGJ_5tlSg4RkekJ4JksPkH1itVCzUixxmnMf4xzxC9hbS8FipefOmj3v4CW6Bnm-Zoqagr-7d_dgbn8unWXEY8IirpQzxKe_-M7zzDdBiiLxYF5SDLetxbAIuH2jchnP6U03mo-kWO9UyQDD5Q7v9ZfSFR5wsM-XiVsphSBqpwW8Xeg/w198-h200/Neef%2023.jpg" width="198" /></a>
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I forget the specific reason I asked McGarry to dub this 'un, but whatever
it was I'm sorta glad that I did. These
late-seventies and beyond art rock projects can get a bit too stilted for
enjoyment and this one does as well, but the noisesquall does have somewhat
of an interesting appeal. Not exactly a steady diet sorta grog for the ears
but if you (like me) thought that Pere Ubu and Swell Maps were going to
revolutionize the entire concept of not just music but sound itself you
might like this. For fans of Bomis Prendin and the Wayside Music catalog and
who reading this review isn't?
</div>
<p></p>
<blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<p></p>
<p><b></b></p>
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<b>Jim Pepper/Bob Moses-DEVOTION 1967 CD-r burn (originally on Re-Kalem
Records)</b>
<p></p>
<p>
<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1XjEwnHDapUHR-UWApd7J59VbbR3I7JUjEBSlEy_A27W0LMYAA2mmbHCDbKA1H80WJGqVUN-PCknv7I4qrofd4cbatL4_kZXf49AuTIxecOnkkUH4Cj1k_DQy1_LrO_e8M7sJ3Snyx21BIJDvzBH27P-ydmgTkLqmPARFbY9wu36mTaoyMxMouw/s1080/Pepper%20Moses.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1038" data-original-width="1080" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1XjEwnHDapUHR-UWApd7J59VbbR3I7JUjEBSlEy_A27W0LMYAA2mmbHCDbKA1H80WJGqVUN-PCknv7I4qrofd4cbatL4_kZXf49AuTIxecOnkkUH4Cj1k_DQy1_LrO_e8M7sJ3Snyx21BIJDvzBH27P-ydmgTkLqmPARFbY9wu36mTaoyMxMouw/w200-h193/Pepper%20Moses.jpg" width="200" /></a></b>Hoo bwah! White guys doing the free jazz thing --- betcha that got some of
the black power players of the day rather mouth frothing if I do say so
myself! Maybe Pepper and Moses (along with their sidemen including Davie
Liebman making an early appearance) would have been spared the wrath of the
budding African consciousness of the day if the bros gave this 'un the once
over. Definitely riding the mid-sixties Archie Shepp and John Col-<u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">train</u> to free sound bliss, Pepper et. al. play like Patrice Lumumba himself
is hot on their trail machete in hand. Three wowsers for sure including
"Custer Gets It", a musical reimagining of Little Big Horn that I don't
think even Sitting Bull could have fathomed back on that fateful day.
</p>
<blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<p>
<b>Metal Virgins-ANIMAL PEOPLE CD-r burn (originally on Thrash Metal
Records, Germany)</b>
</p>
<p></p>
<p>
<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi55woy4oh4mBaTkIF9TeyRqXjzVcbIBoVQXfipkx1anKnOluMxjeedxoBv2Krs14jMppKl6BANa0BmLN5qA_3SeT319SGTdYqKus7yilUwuXFSc4cBHQ2k1voBLnuietYet75nviHtJyMn73JltpmVbFM48m394golEX8gqo7MI5FG4bCQ8PVhMA/s561/Metal%20Virgins.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="561" data-original-width="558" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi55woy4oh4mBaTkIF9TeyRqXjzVcbIBoVQXfipkx1anKnOluMxjeedxoBv2Krs14jMppKl6BANa0BmLN5qA_3SeT319SGTdYqKus7yilUwuXFSc4cBHQ2k1voBLnuietYet75nviHtJyMn73JltpmVbFM48m394golEX8gqo7MI5FG4bCQ8PVhMA/w199-h200/Metal%20Virgins.png" width="199" /></a></b>As far as this nimble mind can tell, this is the final Steve Hall recording
at least until he got on his Jesus trip a few years later. If this is indeed
Hall's final "real" effort (did his Jesus recordings ever get a release for
that matter?) it sure is a fine goodbye from a guy who put out quite a slew
of top notch efforts under such monikers as the Afflicted (Man) and
Accursed.
</p>
<p>
Well it ain't anywhere near the overpowering attack of the Accursed's "Going Down"/"I
Didn't Mean It" (which was
<u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">THEE</u><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"> </span>greatest
over-the-top single since the MC5's "Looking At You" or even GG Allin's
"Gimme Some Head") but it is way better than some of the grindhardmetalcore
or whatever it was being called which was coming out during the
mid-eighties. Melodies and <b>PASSION</b> can be discerned amidst the
guitar pyrotechnics (far better'n the sped up John Schaum Book One etudes
that Eddie Van Halen made his stoner dough with) and even if it all can seem
but a big blur there is still a metallic passion that could be called
Sabbathian at one point and even Stoogeian the next. Total HM eruption
compacted into sonic matter with a mass comparable to those neutrons that
pass through with the speed of light and get stuck somewhere in the earth's
core.
</p>
<p>
The surprise winner of the post, but be prepared to dish out the collectors
prices when copies do pop up. Or do what McGarry did and cop it off Youtube.
</p>
<blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<p>
<b>Wayne Marsh and Susan Chen-BALLADS CD-r burn (originally on Interplay
Records)</b>
</p>
<p></p>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0zJR2fwJRV3KCEksSIK3IGStFyeDxCGjkozriXUcEx-zqrbfGl7bp6EUr7uDCa39UOIEoHxDxhsSDGvmyjF9J9BmXpR8wQA0IvLLhiyZ9QTHhLNbMFJ9x6XdOjijigZuesWQNoRt5gmnXpsUHpikoa82dlFc3zfdPYrItdSpvLfkSpYfWakMopw/s555/marsh%20Chen.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="539" data-original-width="555" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0zJR2fwJRV3KCEksSIK3IGStFyeDxCGjkozriXUcEx-zqrbfGl7bp6EUr7uDCa39UOIEoHxDxhsSDGvmyjF9J9BmXpR8wQA0IvLLhiyZ9QTHhLNbMFJ9x6XdOjijigZuesWQNoRt5gmnXpsUHpikoa82dlFc3zfdPYrItdSpvLfkSpYfWakMopw/w200-h194/marsh%20Chen.png" width="200" /></a>
</div>
Let me be the first to tell you (as if you didn't know) that I am not
whatcha'd call a fan of the more refined and straight ahead forms of jazz that
seem to be extremely popular with more than a few tie 'n tux aficionados out
there. While Cecil Taylor played his piano like an 88 piece drum set, Frank
Lowe scraped the canyons of his soul with his sandblasted tenor and the AACM
guys stretched boundaries the way most of you readers
stretch your sphincters I find music such as the kind performed here lacking
in any soul-twisting drive and energy. For fancy dining purposes only. By the
way, did you know that saxophonist Marsh was the nephew of the great Mae Marsh
of DW Griffith fame?
<p></p>
<blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<p><b>Various Artists-JUNETEENTH SPECIAL CD-r burn</b></p>
<p></p>
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</div>
I don't know how you celebrated "Juneteenth", but on KORC-LP in Corvallis
Washington it was done pretty snatly on one (I assume there's more) of the
"community station'''s jazz programs that I'm sure proliferate the airwaves.
Good selection of spinners were to be heard too from some early Sun Ra to
Sonny Sharrock ca. <b>ASK THE AGES</b> with John Carter and Arthur
Blythe thrown in here/there. Given the wide array of seventies free play
involved I kinda get the idea that most people who would celebrate this recent
national holiday would not approve of the dissonance that was being presented on this program but
eh, this is something that I gotta say sure puts a positive spin on
Afro-American cataclysmic sound approaches a whole lot more'n Li'l Jinx or
whatever his name ever did.
</div>
<blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<div>
<b>
Charles Tyler Quintet-WKCR ARCHIVES STUDIO 3 12/8/74 CD-r burn</b>
</div>
<div>
<b><br /></b>
</div>
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</div>
Forward sent me this along with the above, and although this
<b><i><u>IS</u></i></b>
Charles Tyler with a rather copasetic band (including the aforementioned Arthur Blythe) I
don't find this radio sesh to be as slam bang as I would have wanted it to be. Oh,
Tyler's is a top notch post-Ayleresque player and I won't say anything nasty
about his comrades, but the fuse seems to fizzle and the playing doesn't quite
"coalesce" especially when lined up against other new players of the same
strata. Get hold of it after hearing Tyler's ESP efforts,
<b>SIXTY MINUTE MAN</b> as well as David Wertman's
<b>KARA SUITE</b> which features some swinging playing not only courtesy
Tyler but Red Transistor on/off member Ken Simon (as if you didn't know given all the
name dropping I've done regarding this under-rated saxist!). <blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote></div>
<div><b>Sun Ra-STANDARDS LP (Vorgmusic Records)</b></div>
<div>
<b><br /></b>
</div>
<div>
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</div>
Early Ra rumblings with the core of his Arkestra standing close by. The vibe's
nearer to Ra's late-fifties efforts as opposed to his sixties madness, the type of jazz that fans of the fifties new thing from George Russell to Miles Davis etc. should appreciate rather snat-like. Comes in dandy see-through orange
vinyl too if that sorta stuff tingles your toes (it used to when I was but a mere teenbo and all agog about such trivialities but nowadays ---
<i><u>eh</u>!</i>)
</div>
<div><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote></div>
<div><b></b><b>Abdul Wadud-BY MYSELF LP (Bisharra Music Productions)</b></div>
<div>
<b><br /></b>
</div>
<div>
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</div>
Cellist Wadud does fine without any of his BAG compatriots getting more music
out of his instrument than any of you doofs woulda ever imagined. At lower
register he's reminiscent of Malachi Favors and at upper Leroy Jenkins, and Wadud
bows, plucks, strums and who knows what else with his axe at times even making some
rather flamenco-styled moves that almost got me donning a pair of castanets! Heck, I even glommed some John Fahey vibes on the closing track "Happiness" if you can believe that! If you like what Anthony Braxton did on his solo saxophone pieces you just
might appreciate this 'un as well.<br />
<p></p>
<blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote><p><b>Ernie Sheldon and the Villagers-BIG MEN, BOLD AND BAD LP (Columbia Records)</b> </p>
<p></p>
<p>
</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmDqnnuSmwYF8O9bgcAPORw3RKDpGqvYmdsn_lm7mbtnvxlrVJ9qzzcdTi2eAS8lYc_jrrt_g_D8fPcatdsomfxKRHpdhhsOmh6nG511CtlAY_uQ4wU7KpDE7dOb8YivbolYFrycn0uP3IVHhnJByyr6G7Ua2pOntVbVSasp2eIGERcNoyi8y58Q/s640/Ernie%20Sheldon.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="634" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmDqnnuSmwYF8O9bgcAPORw3RKDpGqvYmdsn_lm7mbtnvxlrVJ9qzzcdTi2eAS8lYc_jrrt_g_D8fPcatdsomfxKRHpdhhsOmh6nG511CtlAY_uQ4wU7KpDE7dOb8YivbolYFrycn0uP3IVHhnJByyr6G7Ua2pOntVbVSasp2eIGERcNoyi8y58Q/w198-h200/Ernie%20Sheldon.png" width="198" /></a></div>This is definitely the kind of folk music that people who got their information from watching too many episodes of <b>HOOTENANNY! </b>would appreciate. Given the amount of early-sixties tee-vee that I've been taking in as of late (including many an old western) I can understand and enjoy this more than any of you sniveling communist folkie wannabes out there ever could. For a guy who I'm sure was down and dirty for the struggle (at least his association with <b>SING OUT!</b> would imply so), Sheldon delivers on some pretty commercial folk for the casual listener...I guess he was only trying to get 'em oiled up for the real deal by presenting these tunes in a fashion that would have appealed to the <b>SING ALONG WITH MITCH</b> crowd. Downright enjoyable, and it even includes a bonafeed Woody Guthrie song namely "Pretty Boy Floyd"! <p></p><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote><p></p><p>It may be too late to give out <a href="https://black2com.blogspot.com/2023/02/what-do-all-these-creatures-have-in.html">back issues of <b>BLACK TO COMM</b></a> as Christmas presents but it's not too late to send a belated batch
to the one you hate and really give him a dose of holiday jeer!</p>
</div>
</span></div>Christopher Stiglianohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17107248034597839482noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6910067.post-77883254013809720722023-12-09T07:54:00.004-05:002023-12-17T14:00:10.426-05:00<div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>FANZINE FANABLA (WITHOUT THE EXCLAMATION POINT AT THE END)</b></span></div><div><br /></div><div>
Well, here are a few more fanzines that have slipped inside my house as they
passed by, and although none of 'em 're what I would say top on my want
list at least they're adding to that pile of mags as well as pertinent pieces copped
off the internet that's building up in the corner of my otherwise farted up bedroom. Sheesh, ya
woulda thought that quite a few editors of such old and long ignored publications like <b>SPOONFUL</b> and <b>TB SHEETS</b> would be bustin' down
the door with mags galore hopin' for some better late than never notoriety,
but sadly that is certainly not what's goin' on 'round these parts! (At least Dan Feiner/Jesse Farlow was on the ball enough to get in touch 'n good for us all!) </div><div><br /></div><div>Methinks that these
former publishers are either ashamed of their long-ignored efforts or, heaven forbid, are long
dead 'n buried and their descendents (no sic) could care less. Most probably they've been deterred by all of the bad rants
that certain individuals have directed at me and my efforts, since that was always one <u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">HUMONGOUS</u> stumbling block as far as <b>BLACK TO COMM </b>gettin' any sorta positive notoriety or even decent distribution and ad revenue. And you wonder why I loathe <a href="https://dynamitehemorrhage.com/">certain</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/gerardcosloy/status/16567718828">people</a> out there!</div>
<div><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKLAfjjTFdwwqQhOwANwhmymy5DmladCDm0emdn-1i3rprlOHI51Te33jctxiMhICFGKfBFjhoyaM55OvxsSH-TWK5VY7ZGnOrJH7BNM5QhNMERDSlT6MhTFO_pCYi833NHro7PwOOLoZeYV7k3AgMUQ_R5ioxC--AgQQI2hV6NqYMu4j5k5AmPA/s1415/ROCK,%20YOU%20SINNERS.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1415" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKLAfjjTFdwwqQhOwANwhmymy5DmladCDm0emdn-1i3rprlOHI51Te33jctxiMhICFGKfBFjhoyaM55OvxsSH-TWK5VY7ZGnOrJH7BNM5QhNMERDSlT6MhTFO_pCYi833NHro7PwOOLoZeYV7k3AgMUQ_R5ioxC--AgQQI2hV6NqYMu4j5k5AmPA/s320/ROCK,%20YOU%20SINNERS.jpg" width="244" /></a></div>Prized possession of the post's gotta be this early piece of prime APA (or more specifically, Frank's APA) pounce entitled <b>ROCK, YOU SINNERS</b> which eventually grew into a real-life fanzine called (as if you didn't know) <b>WHO PUT THE BOMP!</b> Frank's APA was Jonh Ingham's idea and from what I read via some old Lester Bangs review in <b>CREEM </b>t'was the proverbial doozy what with Lenny Kaye's contribution being a book of matches tied to a paper inscribed "Light My Fire" and Meltzer's an old textbook with some new and with-it San Francisco and the Jefferson Airplane rock-related title printed specifically on it by the man himself. I'd go check out that article to get the specific details of that mailing, but who in heck knows where that ish rests withing a good fortysome years of rock mags 'n related jetsam piled up all over the place?</div><div><br /></div><div>The usual suspects can be found here what with the mandatory Jay Kinney cartoons and letters from the likes of Meltzer, Ingham and Metal Mike Saunders puttin' their two pennies in...and not much else because I thought that the entire proceedings coulda used more of a beef up in order to capture my short attention span! Probably not enough mentions of the Stooges (at least as far as boffo early-Seventies fanzines go) to keep this 'un afloat! Still this is the pick of the litter if only because it is a Greg Shaw offering with contributions from some of the better names in this sordid thing that we call rock fandom.</div><div><br /></div><div>Maybe if I took this in along with the rest of the APA I would have absorbed that heavenly fanzine wonderment that still keeps me glued to my old <b>DENIM DELINQUENT</b>s and <b>NIX ON PIX</b> even after eyeballin' 'em a good few thousand times apiece --- I'm such a <u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">picky</u><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"> </span>reader, y'know.<br /><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote><p></p><p>I've obtained a few fanzines from the British Front that just might appease my cravings for that long gone form of
offensive rockscreeding that seems to be so out-of-fashion in these bizarro world puritan times. In all honesty I doubt it, since it seems that even
<i style="font-weight: bold;">then</i> (y'know the good ol' days of
rock 'n roll fandom) there was a lack of the truly "gonz" style to be found even
in those fanzines that I woulda sworn were written by guys who used to comb
through every issue of <b>NME</b> or <b>SOUNDS</b> extant! Sheesh,
it's sure dismal living in a world where you know that what passes for rock
"criticism" these days is way more influenced by the likes of Parke Puterbaugh
than it is of Meltzer.</p></div>
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</div>
I finally found my copy of that <b>MESSTHETICS</b> CD which
featured a spacious sampling of what was going on in the world of the English
cassette culture made up of local (yet potent enough) acts who performed
in school basements and traded their tapes with groups in a similar sort of
nowheresville straits. <b>DAMN LATIN</b> was a mag that I thought woulda
documented this era of a DIY that <i>deserved </i>to have been remembered, but
it really skirts that whole scene and just blebs on like any half-hearted
fanzine one could come up with, my own <a href="http://black2com.blogspot.com/2021/06/blog-post_28.html">efforts</a> included
</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>
Eh, it ain't that bad but for a publication that said it was devoted to
the up 'n comin' cassette scene it coulda done better. Maybe I am
crabbin' too much since acts such as the Sea of Wires and the Sinatras are
worthy of further examination. Maybe the other issues of
<b>DAMN LATIN</b> deal more closely with this short phenomenon, but until
I find any I guess I'll just have to keep searchin' for that particular
<b>MESSTHETICS</b> that was been playin' hide 'n seek with me for quite
awhile.
</div><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg75UlAQK6kG-fQyUwrYMBfw8rbp4PavNamkp-4zuKCqzazsFl4qjzj9UtUU958SyhHR1hVeuP4jbwGd6SVNOXaYQjqiCRq8nScUb8ij8HOqzFFokBrQtuRicGJhJiX17d2J7fNf_TUzPZEeI5Z-OdGAgn7UwdbQp19Vnk_gu1ohwXY9rC9hr41WA/s1584/Zigzag%2041.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1584" data-original-width="1080" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg75UlAQK6kG-fQyUwrYMBfw8rbp4PavNamkp-4zuKCqzazsFl4qjzj9UtUU958SyhHR1hVeuP4jbwGd6SVNOXaYQjqiCRq8nScUb8ij8HOqzFFokBrQtuRicGJhJiX17d2J7fNf_TUzPZEeI5Z-OdGAgn7UwdbQp19Vnk_gu1ohwXY9rC9hr41WA/w136-h200/Zigzag%2041.jpg" width="136" /></a>
</div>
I also bought this issue of <b>ZIGZAG</b> (the fanzine that made good and
still kinda/sorta remained one throughout its existence) because of the
article on a certain group of mid-late sixties renown whose name I dare not
even <i>think of</i> let alone mention lest images of fortysome
years of precocious youth in funny hairdos and plastic jewelry come gushing
into my mind. (Note: this was pecked out before the naming of that certain group in question was somewhat begrudgingly lifted!) If you're the kind of person who thinks that the cult of
seventies under-the-radar music from the Stooges and Roxy Music to Patti Smith
and Suicide (etc. and so forth) gave way to some mighty pallid carbon copies once the eighties
rolled in I think you will sympathize with me.
</div>
<div><br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJiWBYYqYiFs-CtK4-bKjS_etX_wVeK1IkOAl8V6mU617o-F4j69LmexLy3FUf_l8QrJchEykP8yS8DXlM7UDSQEkz-CDXHbkWjvddc0Yo0DIBxtdid4cViwCRSjDYgoyRucIJAfJompeTTstKWaX2Avj_v0Hbv52dYMEtJ1WxxPEeh_qwVr3owA/s1099/Zigzag%20ad.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1099" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJiWBYYqYiFs-CtK4-bKjS_etX_wVeK1IkOAl8V6mU617o-F4j69LmexLy3FUf_l8QrJchEykP8yS8DXlM7UDSQEkz-CDXHbkWjvddc0Yo0DIBxtdid4cViwCRSjDYgoyRucIJAfJompeTTstKWaX2Avj_v0Hbv52dYMEtJ1WxxPEeh_qwVr3owA/s320/Zigzag%20ad.jpg" width="320" /></a>
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<td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">
No, I am not going to make<br />the obvious joke --- no way<br />Charlie!!!!
</td>
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So I won't mention the article on this particular band and'll just concentrate
on the rest. Or most of it at least but eh, it is no wonder why a good portion
of the seventies English fanzines took their cue from Pete Frame and company.
Even with the shaggy dog West Coast musicians these guys thought the tits
there's the proper air of true fandom to be found here, with pieces written by
guys who grew up with the Big Beat in their hides and never did totally eschew
it all for cocaine karma and alla that <b>BLESS THE BEASTS AND PAMPERED UPPER-MIDDLE CLASS BRATS</b> hippie moralizing that proved that when "rock music" came of age it
took on a whole passel of phony moralizing with it. I used to think that is
was strange that the same people who grew up with Gene Vincent on the stereo and who cut
their teeth on the Rolling Stones before diving straight into the swamp of hippie narcissism could ever even remotely retain some sort of punk
consciousness, but these people have and that's probably why these old
<b>ZIGZAG</b>s still have the original power and might lo these many years later
while some of those very late issues have that pseudo artzy taint to them which date 'em even worse'n a collection of Cheech 'n Chong drug jokes.<br /><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote></div>
<div>
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</div>
'n speaking of <b>ZIGZAG</b> here's their li'l cyster publication
<b>FAT ANGEL</b>, more in the old-style fanzine mode, and in many ways closer
in layout to those old English rockabilly fanzines which were mostly
illustration-less with pages full of text usually written in the driest ways one could imagine. Still, this early
<b>FAT ANGEL</b> does have its value even though it seems to follow the
usual early-seventies English fanzine tradition of concentrating perhaps a
little too much on the late-sixties/seventies Amerigan West Coast leather
goods and Buffalo Bill lookalike downhome nausea that still happens to repel this writer. A KSAN-FM
interview with Jerry Garcia printed in full should give you at least a scant
idea of what was in store with this and many other early-seventies English rock fanzines.
</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>
Yet editor Andy Childs does have some good taste left in him given his
rah-rahing for the likes of the Flamin' Groovies and that Arnold Corns record
that I'm sure Brad Kohler will now want to pay me hundreds of dollars for, not
to mention the viola player for that band I shudder even mentioning
anymore due to the aforementioned plastic jewelry and faint moustache above
the lip gang. But I did learn something from that piece, and that is a fellow bandmate once said that this person will be remembered as "the
Beethoven of the next century" which is
<i style="font-weight: bold;">THIS</i> century so like, where are the
statues of him anyway? Eh, they'd probably find something "wrong" with the aforementioned viola player and when they did they'd topple the thing and melt it into a George Floyd memorial. I mean, what <i>else?</i></div><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<div>
The Mod Revival of the early-eighties had about as much of an effect on me as
conversion therapy would have on Britney Griner and thus I had tried to steer
clear of any of them fanzines that were devoted to the cause, but
<b>DECEMBER CHILD</b> seemed different. Maybe it was because of the
promise of something other'n the usual sunglasses and snatty suit pose that
drove me to this. Who knows, but I copped this 1980 debut issue and well,
thought the thing was a pretty halfway-there fanzine effort which, while not
tingling any nerve nodes of mine, still had a worth to it what with an article
not only on the Creation but Pop Art and Syd Barrett included in this debut.
</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>
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</div>
Writing ain't anything that captures you like the best of the gonz efforts
did, and the inclusion of poetry is about as appealing to me as the crop of
scabs I used to acquire during my single digit days. The Creation article was
mostly the same ads you've seen reprinted for years with a fraction of text
while the Barrett piece just seems like yet another in a long line of praise on a guy that has been written about ad infinitum and after Nick Kent's mega-opus why bother.
The Pop Art (as related to English rock) 'un did have some spirit even if it
does read like a term paper. One that got a good enough grade but
<i>still...</i>
</div>
<div>
<i><br /></i>
</div>
<div>
Eh I'm getting picky because, in my own downhome golly ned way, I gotta say I
like <b>DECEMBER CHILD</b> perhaps becaue it does succeed in its own low
fidelity bedroom publication way. Might be worth your while to latch onto one
if it does wiggle a bit under your nose.<blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote></div>
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</div>
I've reviewed a whole slew of <b>OUTLET</b>s before and this ninth issue is a
nice enough addition to the pile. Maybe it ain't as deep dirt fact digging as the others and
the tendency to be more discography-oriented than a real fun genzine detracts some, but it still stands well with pieces on Joe Meek and
early Todd Rundgren before he made too much of a fool of himself. Each of
these <b>OUTLET</b>s is worth the time and effort to find, and if you snoop
around long enough you just might get your chance to experience this rather
nifty if oft ignored fanzine that shoulda made a bigger impression than it
did.<blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote></div><div><div>
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</div>
</div>
<div>
Now for a switch of hemispheres and a trip to a place in which at least one
of the most hideous, unappreciative (of all I've done for him which I know
he has forgotten about) and evil people I've ever come across beings on
earth resides...namely Australia. Now despite the presence of this specimen
(who last time I looked tipped way over into the realm of socially conscious
hackdom) the continent has been known for producing some pretty sharp bands
at least since the specter of the Detroit late-sixties underground began
nudging its way into the local scene, so it would figure that a mag like
<b>DAS REICH</b> would have shivved its way into the fray. After all, its's a fanzine with an eye
out for the groups that helped make Australia something akin to Michigan
South back when the likes of Radio Birdman and all of the groups in their
wake were giving some of us northern hemisphere types a li'l bit of <i>hope.</i>
</div>
<div>
<i><br /></i>
</div>
<div>
Dunno if you could call <b>DAS REICH</b> a "crudzine" even if it does
fit some of the criteria...cheap production, no illustrations, and really no
new info to be dispensed, but I still like it. Perhaps that's only due to
the subject matter at hand which I would probably read about in earnest no
matter who's writing about it, and better some unknown fanablas like the
guys who put this out over any of those bigtime rock critics of the eighties
who seemed to go from writing about rock 'n roll to mewling about everything
from such haute causes as the glories of urban youth who
can do no wrong running wild in your local Walmart. I'm a sucker for things
like the MC5 anyway, so I'd give these guys an A+ if I were Dean Christgau,
but thankfully I'm not so I'll just tell 'em to stay after school for one
hour, and no chewing gum!<blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote></div>
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</div>Back to Merrie Olde. The Ultravox thingie pictured on the left appears to have been a special
edition of the English <b>IN THE CITY</b> fanzine, and for a one-off it
sure did itself whatcha'd call swell. Now I gotta admit that I am not
exactly total bonkeroo over Ultravox but I really do like their earlier
material and this mag sure sates any curiosity I do have about the group and
their humble origins. This ish really packs the info to the point where any
curiosity you might have had about the act would be instantly sated, with
bits about their early Tiger Lily days well into John Foxx talking about his
new solo career which (at least for me) really puts a cap on the entire Ultravox saga. If
there are any Ultravox aficionados out there well, I'll betcha already have
this by now!</div>
<div><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote></div><div><p></p>
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</div>
The French have been known for their etapoint rock fanzines which
fortunately mirror their exquisite taste for an underground credo which
never did coalesce in these here United States. <b>ROCK INFO!</b> was
but one of these, a nice li'l home-produced effort which I'll bet was just
brimmin' fulla that Gallic rock greatness I sure wish I grew up amongst back
when it was all going down. I say "bet" because well, besides the shrunken
type (akin to that found in many an issue of my <a href="http://black2com.blogspot.com/2021/06/blog-post_28.html">crudzine</a>) the text is all in French and I'm having enough trouble mastering English as
it is! </div><div><br /></div><div>But despite the expected barriers I gotta say that <b>ROCK INFO!</b>,
which from what I can decipher sounds like a rock history with an
underground French bent to it, sure looks swell what with such mentions
of various French faves like the VU, Dolls, Patti and TV interspliced with a
few unexpected entries such as the Dead, 'plane and Mayall, sometimes on the
same page if you can imagine! No illustrations other'n drawings of
guitars and records in the margins, but it sure comes off a whole lot
swanker'n some of those anarcho-drivel efforts (mostly done by communists
pretending to be anarchists because they're ashamed 'r somethin') that've
come out in droves a good four decades back!
</div><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote></div>
<div>
For a switch here's an Amerigan fanzine up for inspection, and although it's a bit outside the
realm of the Golden Age of Rock Fanzines (1971-1981), the 1997 publication from
the El Lay area does capture some of the fun 'n jamz that could be found in
other locally produced efforts that came outta that burgh a good two decades
earlier. Now that's an accomplishment especially when you consider just how
terrible the entire area had become since those days of yore when decadence
sorta oozed its way into bald-faced disgust thus losing any of the allure it
mighta had back during the days of <b>DENIM DELINQUENT</b> and
<b>BACK DOOR MAN</b>.
</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>
<b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div>
FRUITBASKET UPSET</b> can get pretty West Coast industry when it wants to, but fortunately
that doesn't get inna way of its overall excitement. Lotsa commercially
viable (read: music way outside the scope of this very blog) coverage to be
found here true, and any mag that would contain a Debbie Gibson interview is
probably headed for the paper shredder pronto! But this rag supersedes any
kind of wariness one might get what with the mega-article on the best live
albums of all time (with some surprises and of course the usual glaring
omissions) and all of the special features such as "The Ron Wood of the Month"
and the live reviews covering everything from Iggy Pop to Black Sabbath
tribute band Sabracadabra with loads of surprises in between.
</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>
I wouldn't call <b>FRUITBASKET UPSET </b>a top notch event in the annals
of rock fandom, but considering a whole lotta the self-conscious and
self-fixated efforts that have come out these past fortysome years (need I
say <a href="https://black2com.blogspot.com/2023/02/what-do-all-these-creatures-have-in.html">more</a>?) it sure reads a whole lot smoother and more honest at that than a good
portion of those home-produced items that are supposed to cater to my own (and who knows, maybe <u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">your</u>) personal musical tastes!<blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote></div>
<div>
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</div>
And now for the non-music section of this post, starting out with the third
issue of the famous (at least in comic fandom circles) effort entitled <b>FANTASY ILLUSTRATED</b>. Yeah
the re-use/imaging of the old EC cover scheme became hackneyed in comic book
fandom after awhile (not counting its usage of album covers and underground
comix throughout the seventies) but since this ish came out in 1964 I'll do
the slack cuttin' if only this time.
</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>
At least editor Bill Spicer was so keen on EC's high standards that he wanted
to continue the tradition, and few can deny that everything from the artwork
to even the paper used showed what kind of loving and warm 'n toasties
devotion went into this effort. The overall results are finer'n fine what with
not only an authorized Tarzan story based on an Edgar Rice Burroughs original
but a whole lotta tender lovin' somethingorother and craftiness to be had all
around. Sure the art is clearly in the amateur ranks (don't think any of 'em
were ready for the Marvel Bullpen at this point in time) but that
doesn't matter one iota given how something along the lines of
<b>FANTASY ILLUSTRATED</b> surpassed many of those comic book crudzine
efforts tossed out by fourteen-year-olds who thought their "Captain Caca"
character was gonna overtake the world of fandom faster than the Flash could
have a premature ejaculation! <blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote></div>
<div>
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</div>
A few of you people out there know just how much of an admiration I had (and still do even!!) for Lenny Kaye even to the point where I sure wanted to look
like him (long hair 'n all) when I was a teenbo admiring his cool posture,
guitar playing for Patti Smith, putting <b>NUGGETS</b> together 'n
alla that. That's why I am plum proud to have this debut issue of
<b>OBELISK</b> in my collection. Yes, the first ish of Kaye's very own
SciFi mag done during the man's very own teenage years back when he was living
in New Jersey contributing to various amateur pubs himself while amassing what
I would take to be a big huge hulking bunch of 'em in himself.
</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>
It's whatcha'd call your typical SciFi 'zine with the same standard layout and
all of those illustrations that look like the kind you get in just about every
other mimeo of the same strata. Nothing in here really appeals to me given
that the incestuousness of this is pretty much on the same par as that of the
rockzine realm of the eighties and nineties where everyone knew each other and
outsiders <i style="font-weight: bold;">GO HOME!</i>, but hey it
<u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">is</u> a Lenny Kaye
production and his DNA's probably all over this as well! Sure would like to
see his early rock 'n roll fanzine efforts which I'm sure even predate
<b>MOJO NAVIGATOR</b> and <b>CRAWDADDY! </b>which would make readin'
'em all the more <u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">GNARLY</u>.<blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGl5HBGQmzDno0H1chjOHL6f6AII0xQjaywb1cEHAIz5mdcSntbH2nbvNZBF7x-cv4qNnyOoga-5-T47cOIDdZyNLKfPaw-rgla8sWYNGizh1f2X2OanoXIOz_qpcreawXsxk2l26xniICA9kHyKwTgPA_bNZRk0YBy9G5kfwbeJwgmNeGGiCzzw/s1342/The%20Silent%20Picture.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1342" data-original-width="1080" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGl5HBGQmzDno0H1chjOHL6f6AII0xQjaywb1cEHAIz5mdcSntbH2nbvNZBF7x-cv4qNnyOoga-5-T47cOIDdZyNLKfPaw-rgla8sWYNGizh1f2X2OanoXIOz_qpcreawXsxk2l26xniICA9kHyKwTgPA_bNZRk0YBy9G5kfwbeJwgmNeGGiCzzw/w161-h200/The%20Silent%20Picture.jpg" width="161" /></a></div>And <u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">finally</u> a fanzine that I'm sure some of you readers would be surprised even exited, one dedicated to the early days of cinema titled what else but <b>THE SILENT PICTURE</b>! For a guy like me who has taken a huge interest in old tyme mooms ever since the days when those silent comedy compilations would pop up on the cathode connection entertaining people whom I'm sure saw these flickers when they first came out, <b>THE SILENT PICTURE</b>'s a publication that I can settle down to read and totally devour within one of those extended and uninterrupted evenings when there's nobody around to bother me and I can play the ol' bedside boom box as loud as I please because well, maybe the neighbors <u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">DO</u> have an appreciation for LaMonte Young after all!</div><div><br /></div><div>The D.W. Griffith tribute was a nice bit of writing even if I already knew just about everything that was mentioned here, and the interview with Griffith regular Mae Marsh was particularly enjoyable given that she (no doubt about it) was one of the more expressive actresses to have popped up on the early pre-twenties screen. Sheesh, the chemistry and electricity she and Griffith fave Robert Harron emitted on celluloid was pretty much unparalleled as far as filmic magic went, and I'd rank the two as perhaps the greatest romantic couple of cinema ever or at least until the advent of Shemp Howard and Christine McIntyre a good thirty or so years later. But still the way those two lit up the screen with their expressive acting (I still love their rather touching segment in Griffith's 1914 classic <b>HOME SWEET HOME</b>) is definitely one of the highlights of the pre-flapper film era.</div><div><br /></div><div>One interesting turdbit that shows up here deals with the great mystery of whatever happened to a whole load of them old films that for one reason or another seem to have been lost to time. For an answer that just might get on the nerves of some of your more serious old movie fans, here's the caption to a picture of a man smashing up something out of range with piles of film cannisters behind him: "What becomes of old or damaged films at the Douglas Fairbanks studio. The reels are chopped into small pieces to prevent use of the material for exhibition purposes by unauthorized persons. The shredded film is then sent to a refinery to get silver salvaged out of the emulsion. This lot probably netted $75 to pure silver." I do feel that I might be somewhat of value if only my molar filling contains a fragment of some lost gem that will never be viewed by the eyeballs of this realm ever again. But as far as serious fans of classic cinema go, boy could I just see the rivers of tears flowing away at the mere thought of such legendary films lost for all eternity, and for the sake of a few pithy bucks at that!</div><div><br /></div>
Christopher Stiglianohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17107248034597839482noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6910067.post-90875872130718790962023-12-04T07:39:00.001-05:002023-12-04T07:39:27.417-05:00<p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiCl4JHHxKHW0NOt9AyV1PqagDa3Jzil2oZudKB3nLxmBifm93q4JXJkR0pPNByIfx-K9Ytn6nsHIx7VKfW7kLx5w14yIUmY2d_eSviU2O3FATZ4dxvNDY_iXYdaQqVzRNlryyIHrKLApcH9bJIGK-_iwtoMtPcV2Tp0I8cPHpVFRofMdMzwrrvA/s1067/LAUGH%20IT%20UP.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="641" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiCl4JHHxKHW0NOt9AyV1PqagDa3Jzil2oZudKB3nLxmBifm93q4JXJkR0pPNByIfx-K9Ytn6nsHIx7VKfW7kLx5w14yIUmY2d_eSviU2O3FATZ4dxvNDY_iXYdaQqVzRNlryyIHrKLApcH9bJIGK-_iwtoMtPcV2Tp0I8cPHpVFRofMdMzwrrvA/w384-h640/LAUGH%20IT%20UP.jpg" width="384" /></a></b></span></div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>BOOK REVIEW! </b><i style="font-weight: bold;">LAUGH IT UP --- FUN WITH CARTOONS</i> <b>BY MARVIN TOWNSEND (Xerox Education Publishing, 1974)</b></span><p></p><p>Yup, here's the third and I believe last of the Marvin Townsend paperbacks that the smarter turdburgers in school spent their begged pennies on. Like with <b>LAUGH OUT</b> and <b>GHOSTLY GHASTLY CARTOONS</b>,<b> </b>you know what's in store which is mainly a whole lot more of them great badgag panels done up by a guy who I believe only had one other admirer not counting his mother and that's me for doggone sure!</p><p>Being the kinda guy who still has a soft spot in his even softer brain for <b>POOCHIE</b>, another dose of Townsend sure takes my mind off the fact that I'm existing in a world where comics like these are outright scorned while people of my generation fondly wax reminiscence upon the works of Lynda Barry. Some mighty good snickers are in store for ya here with even a few that I think were good enough to appear in a few bigname mags. Who knows, but I get the idea that maybe one or two of 'em would have snugly fit into any seventies-vintage <b>NEW YORKER</b> perhaps getting the same amt. of chortles that one could outta Sam Gross! Well, they <b><i><u>coulda</u></i></b> gone down swell with the upnosed sophisticated ones that even read the wretchy Ellen Willis columns that usedta appear in it.</p><p>This book's also noted for a few hippie gags which, given this 'un came out '74 way, were a wee bit outta the timeframe and thus were what the "cool" types woulda called "not relevant". Well, I don't think that Townsend was about to do any glam decadence-oriented generation gap cartoons, though his handling of some Karen Quinlan situations woulda brought up a few chuckles 'round here. </p><p>A nice collection that might make you forget that things like <b>ZITS</b> and <b>BABY BLUES </b>exist. But I doubt it.</p>Christopher Stiglianohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17107248034597839482noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6910067.post-45761922898796218862023-11-21T11:19:00.002-05:002023-12-02T06:24:38.723-05:00<p></p>
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</div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>BOOK REVIEW! <i>THE SPHINX AND ALLEY OOP</i> BY V. T. HAMLIN (Kitchen
Sink Press, 1991)</b></span>
<p></p>
<p>
My recent review of <a href="https://black2com.blogspot.com/2023/09/comic-book-reprint-review-funnies-3.html" style="font-weight: bold;">THE FUNNIES</a> not only rekindled (hah! --- as if it ever <i>went away!</i>) the strong passion I held for the funny papers
during my single-digit days but had me scurrying to ebay to get hold of
some <b>ALLEY OOP</b> collections. The <b>OOP</b>s that were reprinted in that
particular BORM conjured an interest in that strip which I must admit is
somewhat strange considering I never really gave it the time of day. Just didn't
appeal to me other'n for its even then antiquated style which harkened back to hem days when finely detailed comic art, which even at the cusp of the 60/70s was in rather short
supply, seemed to rule the roost to be cornball about it.
</p>
<p>
Perhaps the concept of a time-travelling caveman didn't quite make sense even
in a comics world where one already had to suspend a whole load of logic and
reality and just get down to the matter of enjoying them. Maybe the
attempts to be relevant to the current events of the day were just too stilted
and half-baked for the senses of any midclass suburban slob what with the
references to flower children and hippies --- as satire or commentary such
strips just didn't work so swell, coming off exactly the way the older generation perceived the youth of the day while failing miserably in the process. At least Al Capp was able to spoof the youth
to the point where he rightfully enraged a whole slew of people who
<b><i>DESERVED IT!</i></b>
</p>
<p>
Well, <b>OOP</b> was runnin' at a time when I had nada appreciation
of continuing storylines other'n the <b>ABNER</b> and
<b>DICK TRACY</b> sagas that really <i>were</i> capturing an
imagination that didn't have much to capture. I'm sure that if I were some
depression-era kid (I was receiving depression-era wages that's for sure!) the
lack of other stimulation woulda have me following the strip with a raving
eagerness, but as it stood <b>ALLEY OOP</b> just didn't spark anything
inside my comics-saturated soul. It was something for the old folks the same way that Jimi Hendrix and the Jefferson Airplane were for the big kids 'n not little turdburgers like myself.
</p>
<p>
Now that I <u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">AM</u> an
old folk maybe it's time that I tried again and so I did. Sure woulda loved
to've read this strip starting at the very beginning but with the variety of
reprints available both fan-oriented and legit, and with the somewhat
exorbitant prices they've got tagged on 'em it is rather hard to know exactly
where to <b><i>start</i></b>.
</p>
<p>
This Kitchen Sink book does help out somewhat. Starting in '47 we're treated
to three Oop arcs. The first one deals with his cranial impressions of
<b>ROBINSON CRUSOE</b> projected onto Professor Wonmug's "View Screen"
and man do they turn out quite differently than the actual novel what with
Crusoe being a sexy blonde, much to the dismay of Oop's galpal Ooola who has enough goin' for her as well. Then Oop's flung back to the Kingdom of Moo where he's in deep trouble for beating up a cute femme who, as they all do, was just lying about
the whole kaboodle (some things
<u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">never</u> change).
Afterwards Our Hero and the somewhat shady Oscar Boom travel via the fourth
dimension to ancient Arabia to check out the legend of the golden fleece
getting into some mystical experiences which eventually get the two into some
rather strange circumstances when their thoughts actually become fleshed out
so-to-speak. Sure glad that didn't happen to me when I was a mid-teenbo or I'd
<u style="font-style: italic;">still</u> be in detention!
</p>
<p>
They <u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">are</u> somewhat
appealing what with that great hatchworked and detailed art that looks as if
each panel took a good half-hour to delineate. The actual adventures ain't
anything to complain about neither...sure they could have been somewhat more
intense but I'm not exactly complaining mind ya. Well, these sagas sure kept
my attention going about as strong as it would have had this book come around back when I was eleven, and even without me being too familiar with the
previous storyline ins and outs it was easy enough for me to somewhat fit into
the tongue and groove without having to resort to reading the
first fourteen years of the thing!
</p>
<p>
Oh yeah, as far as the cover story goes --- well, we all have read
various SciFi sagas about time travelers who change the past making for a way
different place to be found when they return to the present? Well, this particular
time-traveling caveman is one fellow who actually
<u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">MAKES</u> the history
when he zooms to the Middle East a good ten thou years back and helps
create the Egyptian Dynasty by leading some wandering tribe in the Sahara to
the Fertile Crescent. The people are so grateful that Oop's face pops up on the (now get this!) Sphinx! The possibilities of Oop changing the course of history are endless, such as if he just happened to be at the Texas School Book Depository on
November 22 of 1963 or maybe with him posing as a clutzy doctor who attempted to deliver
a number of future political figures who just "happen" to be stillborn, or
accidentally dropped on the floor, or fed to the dogs for that matter.
</p>
<p>
Like another once-legendary NEA Services strip <b>CAPTAIN EASY</b>, there is a
balance between adventure and humor that yin/yangs a whole lot more'n casual
perusers could possibly fathom. Overall, these strips make for good lazy afternoon reading that brings back
those comic strip memories of an obsession that practically ruled my life. But hey, better it be comics than all of those stoopid things the other guys were involved in
like sports, race baiting, self-abuse...
</p>
<b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitimWbUtpMcznpnQ-n4VmcpkAm9MLaHqkfQEd1HwlYnttUuJBtC-dw77uXSDyLk2huNmEX0K0-mfIDZjTnYVBBVM6YK2ctE9XzpS4bjSO7lX2jS3YCmDRrRU7-NtZYX6yhooG2GkUCBiy5d9LxDnix7fcKN2yVotAxpvpaOdalzK9UmebvQry_Jw/s1419/Alley%20Oop%20BOOK%20ONE.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1419" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitimWbUtpMcznpnQ-n4VmcpkAm9MLaHqkfQEd1HwlYnttUuJBtC-dw77uXSDyLk2huNmEX0K0-mfIDZjTnYVBBVM6YK2ctE9XzpS4bjSO7lX2jS3YCmDRrRU7-NtZYX6yhooG2GkUCBiy5d9LxDnix7fcKN2yVotAxpvpaOdalzK9UmebvQry_Jw/w200-h153/Alley%20Oop%20BOOK%20ONE.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>STOP THE PRESSES!</b> After pecking out the typically abysmal gunk this blog is renowned for directly above I discovered that (wonder of wonders!) there's actually a new series of <b>ALLEY OOP</b> daily reprints that have begun to creep into the comics anthology world! I dunno how long this endeavor will last (I get the sneakin' suspicion that it's gonna eventually peter out the way all of those <b>LI'L ABNER</b> attempts have) but it at least is a smart start and any <b>OOP</b> fans there are left out there in funny pages land better rejoice with their hearts, or any other bodily organs that might be at hand.<div><br /></div><div>Even if the series eventually flops, at least it's a start and as far as comic strip history goes these are indispensable (even the original run drawn for the soon-to-be-even-more-extinct-than-the-Fellmandon Bonnet-Brown syndicate pop up!). These pre-time travel stone age sagas that appear (most of which seem to center around a love/hate relationship between Oop and King Guzzle similar to the Popeye and Bluto situation) keep you tuned in more'n any episode of <b style="text-align: left;">RING-A-DING-DING SCHOOL </b><span style="text-align: left;">ever did <i>that's</i> for sure! It's no wonder why this 'un became a big hit with the depression-wages era kids (who at least had an excuse for the pittance they earned!) and if you're really that interested after all of this schpiel why dont'cha write to </span><a href="mailto:alleyoop@aruffo.com">alleyoop@aruffo.com</a> and see what wonders await.<div><p></p>
</div></div>Christopher Stiglianohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17107248034597839482noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6910067.post-59366828719058959202023-11-12T07:05:00.006-05:002023-11-13T09:45:05.104-05:00<p>
I still hold humanity and most of its values and beliefs in utter contempt but
yeah, I do feel somewhat better now than I did last week at the same time. Gotta stop having little
things like seeing the name of someone trigger me into waves of utter
revulsion (I should be embarrassed by this infantile train of thought but I don't care anymore) and although I
<i style="font-weight: bold;">DO NOT</i> take back anything I said last
go 'round and don't feel any remorse for coming off like such a self-centered
pantywaist I must say that even a good hour or two after pecking out that rant
on I felt quite <i>shallIsay</i> "chipper" and kinda wonder why I was
making such a fuss over it all in the first place. Things like my failure in life (at least as
far as smiting the people I loathe go) usually doesn't affect me much and
then, <i>one </i><b style="font-style: italic;">second </b><u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">LATER</u>...
</p>
<p>
But hey, I'll try to keep all of my pent up inner angst over not being as
handsome or as famous as Jay Hinman deep down in the guts, at least until next
time. And until that fateful day arrives I'm going to do my best to be the
closest anyone on this planet can get to being Casper the Friendly Ghost and
act about as happy and as pleasant as a 13-year-old boy locked in a porn shop
overnight. Maybe not as pulse pounding, but still you have nothing to worry
about with regard to me lashing out at the same ol' demons that have been
pestering me since at least the dawn of first grade.
</p><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<p>
OK --- howzbout some <i style="font-weight: bold;">more</i> of that AI generated
nonsense that I've been monkeying around with! And boy did I come up with some doozies!!! The first illustration on today's itinerary is supposed to be John Cage and it does look somewhat like
him, but what is he doing? Either playing a musical instrument of his own
creation (perhaps a "prepared switchboard") or engaging in a little foosball.
</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxhiKjBX8DElMnnp2VEOg7ronW3kG6q0QAPpyFPO8Il9_3DRp9SKXJ18KGuGUJbaUbUBti0BPcnpK3g641wq9ouThOhCWG6E_BnM200HWWleNNF-F_6QKPmKkl7TF0mDN0pylaqMkAW3Cl6ZySRuM5jmN4CREGGh3B0Ja-vDqN3y2-I0x0x9HPfw/s1024/John%20Cage%20foosball.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxhiKjBX8DElMnnp2VEOg7ronW3kG6q0QAPpyFPO8Il9_3DRp9SKXJ18KGuGUJbaUbUBti0BPcnpK3g641wq9ouThOhCWG6E_BnM200HWWleNNF-F_6QKPmKkl7TF0mDN0pylaqMkAW3Cl6ZySRuM5jmN4CREGGh3B0Ja-vDqN3y2-I0x0x9HPfw/w640-h640/John%20Cage%20foosball.jpg" width="640" /></a>
</div>
<div><br /></div>
Here's another badass rocker who's so cool that he even has a guitar neck
protruding from his left arm! And hey, would you want to take a ride in any of
those automobiles seen in the distance? Not me, bub!
<div><br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipZ6pHRQyvfaz2c1qKi7G6H-1G-PPv7agF3nIYemwaCMzHNj6GLg-u1LnYvwXjQBG5LeMZEiLSjZjEdzprUVmUvAhdc3eF_0XS31yr63ffrBz_y_pQYyyEuRVx5mLTD2XQFygBicD1hQ2vCl4z0GHMupPSRR76c5FIMKcPUlkzoaD5ZZgYs0Wn_w/s1024/stooges%20fake%2017.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipZ6pHRQyvfaz2c1qKi7G6H-1G-PPv7agF3nIYemwaCMzHNj6GLg-u1LnYvwXjQBG5LeMZEiLSjZjEdzprUVmUvAhdc3eF_0XS31yr63ffrBz_y_pQYyyEuRVx5mLTD2XQFygBicD1hQ2vCl4z0GHMupPSRR76c5FIMKcPUlkzoaD5ZZgYs0Wn_w/w640-h640/stooges%20fake%2017.jpg" width="640" /></a>
</div>
<br />
<div>
The following two pictures are supposed to be Norman Rockwell's impressions of
a race riot although (contrary to the text I typed in) there are no white
people being butchered, children hung from lampposts, looting or, for that
matter, policemen just standing around doing nothing. Given the "rioters'" body
contortions, you could look upon these as being Rockwell paintings filtered through
Robert Longo. I'm sure a few of you readers could come up with some really
<i>interesting</i> takes on these two!
</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS8PPPblvRy6Ewjs4w05CVbSpk90eWhiSx1a2NhDkWHFYwxXonlLqFnj3vUpDBImtyA6R4CvJmbpn_FNAXhJ5hhAFfDO6qnevS2A4I8RN5M1JpR2eWQZxWSu8O7JkDroJr7x0TLbf09A7EfeKYATMk-8dDCkj8hMj8aOzaSWAK7Zw97PmyZOVuGA/s852/race%20riot.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="852" data-original-width="852" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS8PPPblvRy6Ewjs4w05CVbSpk90eWhiSx1a2NhDkWHFYwxXonlLqFnj3vUpDBImtyA6R4CvJmbpn_FNAXhJ5hhAFfDO6qnevS2A4I8RN5M1JpR2eWQZxWSu8O7JkDroJr7x0TLbf09A7EfeKYATMk-8dDCkj8hMj8aOzaSWAK7Zw97PmyZOVuGA/w640-h640/race%20riot.png" width="640" /></a>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjasANsn8finjKQ9xno-WdhkCdfaPHk4gBiLwe-AGcYJAzqCh1O5vhnzRivzFF-dNvXU8nU8ttQGxv2I81dGGMFpKPJNoqg8sgmplsscr4O4_SVIYuNIkD82WjePOeEYJeFQkirD0Q0KYTN51g7Vq7PBpji0NSQtm5u6G-3eigdvmTE37zRW2HBlA/s855/race%20riot%202.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="855" data-original-width="841" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjasANsn8finjKQ9xno-WdhkCdfaPHk4gBiLwe-AGcYJAzqCh1O5vhnzRivzFF-dNvXU8nU8ttQGxv2I81dGGMFpKPJNoqg8sgmplsscr4O4_SVIYuNIkD82WjePOeEYJeFQkirD0Q0KYTN51g7Vq7PBpji0NSQtm5u6G-3eigdvmTE37zRW2HBlA/w630-h640/race%20riot%202.png" width="630" /></a>
</div>
<br />
<div>
And now for something a little easier on the eyes. <u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">This</u> AI-induced lass is (really!) supposed to be none other than Yoko Ono during the recording of
(I believe) her <b>PLASTIC ONO BAND </b>album, or was it
<b>TWO VIRGINS </b>judging from the abundance of anatomy on display?! All
I gotta say is this in fact is Yoko then maybe I should "give
<u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">PIECE</u> a chance"!
</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHnp6eF7DeHrqMFHyNE-HnlKeX_tExlITC8M3ZYTCmqUAPXsGpX0W5j5Ypzf7B8hchH-4BIOh7HYL9msOFPyUZyPTEkCrq2tZOdTplmxhIsW2lm-V145sWUyvwFKh6yhSyfOs5RY7O-QCqvOU-YKsYOfMpURHoJQl-4wnMwbIj24EQztUh2sdo3w/s619/Japanese%20girl%20in%20bikini%20bottom..png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="619" data-original-width="460" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHnp6eF7DeHrqMFHyNE-HnlKeX_tExlITC8M3ZYTCmqUAPXsGpX0W5j5Ypzf7B8hchH-4BIOh7HYL9msOFPyUZyPTEkCrq2tZOdTplmxhIsW2lm-V145sWUyvwFKh6yhSyfOs5RY7O-QCqvOU-YKsYOfMpURHoJQl-4wnMwbIj24EQztUh2sdo3w/w476-h640/Japanese%20girl%20in%20bikini%20bottom..png" width="476" /></a>
</div>
<br />
<div>Okay, eyeballs back into sockets. The following picture is what I got when I typed in "Nazis beating up first
graders with soggy broccoli"...
</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXNp4vp-Kf2Ohm-8rzd6Ee7FLUma5xaEXgRiNvlrXtu9UWGSqXlZlSukro2uryXTNbT8m39rEo8tRGwrHb4zzOUPGql9jWZbxt8MJNEshZSBE6MRu030__cqDg50uZOkx5r4VPeJDIrlJMi0qcg8tI6cebjNAUZD3IFlGJjQhst6aPMUh8MS1S7Q/s405/nazis%20first%20graders.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="405" data-original-width="393" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXNp4vp-Kf2Ohm-8rzd6Ee7FLUma5xaEXgRiNvlrXtu9UWGSqXlZlSukro2uryXTNbT8m39rEo8tRGwrHb4zzOUPGql9jWZbxt8MJNEshZSBE6MRu030__cqDg50uZOkx5r4VPeJDIrlJMi0qcg8tI6cebjNAUZD3IFlGJjQhst6aPMUh8MS1S7Q/w622-h640/nazis%20first%20graders.png" width="622" /></a>
</div>
<br />
<div>This is supposed to be Eddie Haskell doing malicious bodily harm to Beaver while his friends watch approvingly. I think I better be more descriptive while typing these AI requests out, though given the word "beaver" I'm glad something we'd all call scurrilous didn't appear.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyMJJpxSiiJLv11Zic2FVL9yoQHHY6YqSD59WJcGtXBZ01vZ-1CwAH2y09c93XJ-rmXSZedZ-9W0vt0WnLd1oGrmmtP3IvHd1LcV3mR6b2l87XdesZuCIGt58kbhoppy5BoTMiZBfImK0VK0sosX7rKm-vt_l7mNJtnCdHk7kXECmySvw7xeoRqQ/s476/Eddie%20Haskell%20beating%20Beaver.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="476" data-original-width="464" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyMJJpxSiiJLv11Zic2FVL9yoQHHY6YqSD59WJcGtXBZ01vZ-1CwAH2y09c93XJ-rmXSZedZ-9W0vt0WnLd1oGrmmtP3IvHd1LcV3mR6b2l87XdesZuCIGt58kbhoppy5BoTMiZBfImK0VK0sosX7rKm-vt_l7mNJtnCdHk7kXECmySvw7xeoRqQ/w624-h640/Eddie%20Haskell%20beating%20Beaver.png" width="624" /></a></div><br /><div>And <i>this </i>is supposed to be Jerry Lewis walloping his son Gary because Gary didn't refer to his father as "Your Majesty"! Nice belt Gary, and while I'm at it nice tie dad!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbwOQK-HD6fhAhQoJK0VBf8nEIFpj0OKCj6j8Hrd6f2E44XyG6dEnoxmXC-NociruTwP4sPLBhEd7N-A3wgxaeapD0AdABLqAIN6bNjQflzD80fi_nHuYdB4wYd6QUaQt43eIhBkVkrOHk5uDe089eKKYxcOsvgyWncYUzRhFDIy0fU5JatdT7Ng/s488/Jerry%20Lewis%20punishing%20Gary.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="488" data-original-width="469" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbwOQK-HD6fhAhQoJK0VBf8nEIFpj0OKCj6j8Hrd6f2E44XyG6dEnoxmXC-NociruTwP4sPLBhEd7N-A3wgxaeapD0AdABLqAIN6bNjQflzD80fi_nHuYdB4wYd6QUaQt43eIhBkVkrOHk5uDe089eKKYxcOsvgyWncYUzRhFDIy0fU5JatdT7Ng/w616-h640/Jerry%20Lewis%20punishing%20Gary.png" width="616" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I decided to create a few comic strip-oriented images. First off I asked for AI to conjure up a pic of Charlie Brown beating up Lucy and Peppermint Patty while Linus and Snoopy look on in shock. Kinda makes me wonder what an AI-created <b>PEANUTS</b> comic strip would look like.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf-EhenTK6GksxPfOgQY1mtJ_JZFV-5VDeXF3gjEoKfAWzTory0P9MkXRNJ7vbhutva0GMWh02AsjvMMqh_1mB94YDQra1UeOynTY-cdOiNyCINzEaWIOjhu-785XJAHDMds9VIYtFWAkqVfN61ZVFDKaxyTv1i-n3-B7xLc73_IkRV9311tjtSQ/s471/charlie%20brown.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="471" data-original-width="470" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf-EhenTK6GksxPfOgQY1mtJ_JZFV-5VDeXF3gjEoKfAWzTory0P9MkXRNJ7vbhutva0GMWh02AsjvMMqh_1mB94YDQra1UeOynTY-cdOiNyCINzEaWIOjhu-785XJAHDMds9VIYtFWAkqVfN61ZVFDKaxyTv1i-n3-B7xLc73_IkRV9311tjtSQ/w638-h640/charlie%20brown.png" width="638" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>And this "<b>ARCHIEE"</b> image is (naturally) nothing at all what I asked for! And I assume that is Jughead in the necktie --- didn't know he was such a masculine figure! I sure like the way the characters are walking and kneeling on water, and what is that roast chicken (I think) doing floating in the lower left portion of the panel? And if you can tell me what that scribbly thing is on the redhead's thigh (never mind describing her footwear or the strange legwork on the blonde in the polka dot swimsuit) you too can win a no prize!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrDZ6HxJO-CDgVYFsDlGT5H67M6T161CedpFjZwOMPCiUPXKOaw0r5m1fqgWfvFykHMUqIoehZomboHIkPynEjgwUFYfg7KMAhrZqO0bqo4gsyF2ArU-seFYfP-ghBc6x5h8MJMsyLY_f6SRzqky-tGloTFM39CK43Ck_8B_zPjr0DNK6fGVQ8Xw/s869/Archiee.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="869" data-original-width="854" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrDZ6HxJO-CDgVYFsDlGT5H67M6T161CedpFjZwOMPCiUPXKOaw0r5m1fqgWfvFykHMUqIoehZomboHIkPynEjgwUFYfg7KMAhrZqO0bqo4gsyF2ArU-seFYfP-ghBc6x5h8MJMsyLY_f6SRzqky-tGloTFM39CK43Ck_8B_zPjr0DNK6fGVQ8Xw/w628-h640/Archiee.png" width="628" /></a></div><br /><div>This is supposed to be Nancy and "Siluung" robbing a candy store. I guess Siluung (who actually stuffed some lollipops in his cap) wants Nancy's take of the heist.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNiqsCOEjfVXknOlz2qZZiBAknIuntMcir9rHvcmG7aWNYcJKlVgXlLDaqpVwoFm9OeVFTZWv8J8zM4Igj9iCwHUatI1l8irZyHmHcKd6zhNiSXpAabh8mHWnYiv3ooxaUSB06_nMtGIpMZTI_WqFPVCLtZdQY0AL_Caq1f_uusldIXc2lFgLjJQ/s848/Nancy%20and%20Sluggo.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="848" data-original-width="848" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNiqsCOEjfVXknOlz2qZZiBAknIuntMcir9rHvcmG7aWNYcJKlVgXlLDaqpVwoFm9OeVFTZWv8J8zM4Igj9iCwHUatI1l8irZyHmHcKd6zhNiSXpAabh8mHWnYiv3ooxaUSB06_nMtGIpMZTI_WqFPVCLtZdQY0AL_Caq1f_uusldIXc2lFgLjJQ/w640-h640/Nancy%20and%20Sluggo.png" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><b><i>OBVIOUSLY</i></b> AI never heard of <b>BEETLE BAILEY</b> because I requested a picture of Beetle, Killer, Zero and Sgt. Snorkel bayoneting babies in the jungles of Vietnam.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjC3mqGs0EWEOq5-_TxvLQ8QB1lr9mbAE2QwBgHEOkPzG69kuvk2kdFmqS0k9RUGu93Bx-XaWWcblH8WawODsBUHyF1If3PvmI3Gv83Iib_9at-2LlDZmTq2vf1yrHtsoV8BkgY8BbxLu-fljwTIsrNLwtrM-Z_Bz6_hp1KmECUBOeFmd7UVEs7A/s843/VW%20in%20jungle.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjC3mqGs0EWEOq5-_TxvLQ8QB1lr9mbAE2QwBgHEOkPzG69kuvk2kdFmqS0k9RUGu93Bx-XaWWcblH8WawODsBUHyF1If3PvmI3Gv83Iib_9at-2LlDZmTq2vf1yrHtsoV8BkgY8BbxLu-fljwTIsrNLwtrM-Z_Bz6_hp1KmECUBOeFmd7UVEs7A/w640-h640/VW%20in%20jungle.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>And this is a party with R. Crumb characters Mr. Natural, Angelfood McSpade and the Snoids with S. Clay Wilson's Checkered Demon as well as Nard 'n Pat. Well, at least they got SOMEWHAT of a Crumbian aura in this result.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFREH2pcVSpn4rBj9OExGRM0ehlemcOtDOzsMaPYeR7x6Cci2_G-l7E8RWaEgN6s2Mq7Qs5565BSmqwBtBe41W44pfe_eFKVtx5YXSw995vsnwB0R0zBTIjwEWSWHUOK6Il__X1l40h3CTX95pCKbCs6MSfSioeaYPWKBxLqAmkeJ5rJA4oXbQBw/s843/party.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFREH2pcVSpn4rBj9OExGRM0ehlemcOtDOzsMaPYeR7x6Cci2_G-l7E8RWaEgN6s2Mq7Qs5565BSmqwBtBe41W44pfe_eFKVtx5YXSw995vsnwB0R0zBTIjwEWSWHUOK6Il__X1l40h3CTX95pCKbCs6MSfSioeaYPWKBxLqAmkeJ5rJA4oXbQBw/w640-h640/party.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><div>OK, I'll refrain from any more of these for now, which is too bad for you because I conjured up some goodies like the cast of <b>GILLIGAN'S ISLAND</b> gone mad with hunger butchering each other up with machetes and George Washington and Abraham Lincoln playing strip poker with Betsy Ross and Louisa Mae Alcott with George and Abraham winning. Of course nothing came out looking like anything I described, but if I get a good one referring to a group or album cover I don't have that would look rather swell next to one of my mini reviews maybe --- just <u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">MAYBE</u> --- that'll show up. But in general I'd call AI, at least from the results I've been gettin', less <b>BRAVE NEW WORLD</b> and more <b>HEAVE NEW WORLD</b>!</div><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote><div>
<p>
Hey, the <b>JUCIKA</b> "X" page has been terminated which is a dang
shame given how I've come to look forward to seeing the Hungarian comic
strip gal in various stages of tight-fitting outfits as part of my daily
decompression. Perhaps this title was just too much for the prudes at "X"
who run things to handle, except that the prudes haven't been running
anything in years unless you count the
<u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">NEW</u> prudes out
there, of which I have the feeling many of you readers out there just happen
to be! Too bad --- gonna miss them squeezies on her.
</p><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<p>I believe I have already told you about this, but if not I'm sure you Golden Age of Rock Fanzine types will sure want to know this! Digital copies of the infamous
<b>GULCHER </b>can be snatched up on-line, so if you want <a href="http://thegizmos.bandcamp.com/merch/gulcher-magazine-0-digital-edition">#0</a> or maybe even <a href="http://thegizmos.bandcamp.com/merch/gulcher-magazine-4-digital-edition">#4</a> and see where I swiped a whole lot of my ideas from well then, <b><i>GO DOG GO!!!</i></b></p><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote><p>Whenever I look through my record, tape and whatever else produces music collection I think about how blessed I am to have such a vast array of music (as well as boffo album art) at my fingertips. Sure's better'n having flesh 'n blood friends if you ask me but anyhoo --- given the rush job this post has turned out to be don't expect the usual --- er --- <i style="font-weight: bold;">genius</i> that usually goes into these crucial to the cause of Western Civilization missives. Perhaps I'd call this 'un "sub-genius" but I don't wanna get sued by any religion out there. Paul McGarry and Thierry Muller provided the goods that went into <u style="font-style: italic;">this </u>one.</p><p><br /></p>
<p>
<b></b><b>Roky Erickson-MAD DOG CD-r burn (originally on Swordfish Records)</b>
</p>
<p></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-0h1gUoC_HI2F8-2VwWRasprDh4Ta9eQt6nENszUVkEFkEbzqzFdLIa5fpn0d2O0VRBbq2EZDm3oxOClFpyBkD5lFqyf7LwIHAbNDWarXi4S-W_WS7jV1T0RqhGcI8sSAHUkTQR91eB_JtRRY0-yYwDJ0NPYpb2Q9jq_2n2zWcG0tt-XPvKytzQ/s602/roky%20lp.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="571" data-original-width="602" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-0h1gUoC_HI2F8-2VwWRasprDh4Ta9eQt6nENszUVkEFkEbzqzFdLIa5fpn0d2O0VRBbq2EZDm3oxOClFpyBkD5lFqyf7LwIHAbNDWarXi4S-W_WS7jV1T0RqhGcI8sSAHUkTQR91eB_JtRRY0-yYwDJ0NPYpb2Q9jq_2n2zWcG0tt-XPvKytzQ/w200-h190/roky%20lp.jpg" width="200" /></a>
</div>
With all of the Roky and Elevators reissues and samplers that have been
floating around for ages it's understandable that a cheapskate like myself
would never be able to keep up with it all. In fact I don't even recall having
heard about this particular collection which has been out on the
under-the-underground market since 1992, something which is way too bad for me
because that means I missed out on thirty years of the opportunity to give
this particular effort a listen. And as we all would have hoped, this is a pretty solid set of rare
Roky not only featuring him with a couple of his famed backing bands but some
hot solo acoustic ravers that have the electricity baked smack dab right into 'em. Baked in solid like any good rock 'n roll effort that is, and I gotta admit that I find it
amazing that a guy with Roky's mental shakeupiness could have ever create such
straight-ahead and deep growl efforts. Kinda proves that Kenneth Anger was
right when he wrote that genius and madness go hand in hand.</div><div><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote><b>Lolitas-FUSEE D'AMOUR CD-r burn (originally on New Rose Records, France)</b><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5-MIUka55rhAG6qUIC0j2KCQWR49kNLBy_f1rkNi3j3aFrs16lVTWe4EOONOer0JtqbWwjhVOM0TnB8-KUoLpov2fcZDNtTR98tpmC_elip8DeNvjeWPhPxv4eElhjG5zblHXNB7FMfluiWfJrDjDLvDm7n3pWrkx6Gjgs6PH8V52UWI2BRAGGg/s432/lolitas.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="418" data-original-width="432" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5-MIUka55rhAG6qUIC0j2KCQWR49kNLBy_f1rkNi3j3aFrs16lVTWe4EOONOer0JtqbWwjhVOM0TnB8-KUoLpov2fcZDNtTR98tpmC_elip8DeNvjeWPhPxv4eElhjG5zblHXNB7FMfluiWfJrDjDLvDm7n3pWrkx6Gjgs6PH8V52UWI2BRAGGg/w200-h194/lolitas.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Not just yer anyday gal group playing up the butts 'n bullseyes angle, these femmes have the same deep drive and under-the-underground seriousness of all those other Gallic greats that France seemed to proliferate in ever
since the glory days of Open Market and <b>PARAPULIE</b> magazine.
Eschewing the giddy gal play-up of many of the weaker (hah!) sex, these Lolitias just might be the best all-female musical act since Dangerous Birds. Neet version of "Little Queenie"
renditioned in a style that I would tend to term "Skydog" if you get my
drift. A surprisingly solid and driving effort, even if we all know that boys are better than
girls (<i>yech!</i>). (Weird note
--- a day after writing the above I discovered that these gals're from
Berlin which really surprises me since it was Thierry who sent this 'un to
me and like, they don't have any sorta Teutonic steel bra and braided hair
sensibility to 'em!)
<p></p><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote><p></p><p><b>Freddie King-LET'S HIDE AWAY AND DANCE AWAY CD-r burn (originally on King
Records)</b></p>
<p>
</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6jjkCPlcpWSexAVW8wsYEVds5ErE7oNSiEAeUI_ScWQHmRVFGT-fociT2irSjudcTOR33Fw-YtrLSg4TR4kTGx-8lMkWScTLICvF3MCD5hC4ubXAK7MqztIMCh2hSh53KWsnFKib2-_bLYClbigAejAnABcaMHyvsRkR3eXPejCSgVjTRCIjQ7g/s620/freddey%20king.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="593" data-original-width="620" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6jjkCPlcpWSexAVW8wsYEVds5ErE7oNSiEAeUI_ScWQHmRVFGT-fociT2irSjudcTOR33Fw-YtrLSg4TR4kTGx-8lMkWScTLICvF3MCD5hC4ubXAK7MqztIMCh2hSh53KWsnFKib2-_bLYClbigAejAnABcaMHyvsRkR3eXPejCSgVjTRCIjQ7g/w200-h191/freddey%20king.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>King's r/b really fits in with the rest of them instrumental biggies of the
late-fifties/early-sixties instro heyday, and there's no real reason why one
couldn't rank these pretty rockin' in their own way efforts up there with
the Ventures or Johnny and the Hurricanes for that matter. Solid sounds that
hold up just as well as any of those trashy garage bands that were cranking
out a similar sound at cheapo hall dances, at least until the second strata
of rock set in a few measly years later put an emphasis on fake English
accents.
<p></p><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<p><b>Various Artists-MAD ABOUT YOU CD-r burn</b></p>
<p>
</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVyWFr3xpLTsU2bA3GEkLhptDANkAzfng3NCSnwIwXZ-slBjhDkwCiTDBGLrj3tUT3UXp1FCH15M6bYBlbqmIdOX-dDZQNysF80blMFh57bjJbtPEVOkTi4bXDKeD1FWXwLUqNg9KduA4wkpVpDwpkV3yXDR4dPUFnTglHv8v0JD5sbbMsIKl7hA/s1090/french%20sampler.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1090" data-original-width="1080" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVyWFr3xpLTsU2bA3GEkLhptDANkAzfng3NCSnwIwXZ-slBjhDkwCiTDBGLrj3tUT3UXp1FCH15M6bYBlbqmIdOX-dDZQNysF80blMFh57bjJbtPEVOkTi4bXDKeD1FWXwLUqNg9KduA4wkpVpDwpkV3yXDR4dPUFnTglHv8v0JD5sbbMsIKl7hA/w198-h200/french%20sampler.jpg" width="198" /></a></div>I wonder why Thierry named this mixdisque after one of those lousy sitcoms I
purposefully missed way back when but he did and well, this
<b>MAD ABOUT YOU</b> (a more solid that you'd expect collection of
French under-the-underground rarites of the eighties) has nothing to do with
<u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">that</u> one so
there's nothing to fret your little minds over this time.
<p></p>
<p>
Disque starts off with some '83 vintage French group that went by the same
name as them Amerigan reggae punks. Yes, there were two Bad Brains out there but this bunch sound more
punk rock 1976 here as opposed to the blare the other guys with the same name made
their rasta known with around the same time. Really liked the way they
de/reconstructed the old "Milk Cow Blues" via the Chocolate Watchband's
"Don't Need Your Lovin'"! Mighty good --- dunno how I missed out on the
original Closer records issue and I am sad that I did even though my wallet
is all the happier for it.
</p>
<p>
Hate to (once again) show my more'n obvious ignorance but I must since I
know practically nada 'bout the Rhythmeurs and worse off can't locate any
solid info on the web in order not to look as doofus as I already do
regarding the group's very existence. They do have that Gallic sound and
sway that reminds me of some of those groups that Skydog plopped onto an
unsuspecting audience 'round '77 way like Asphalt Jungle.
</p>
<p>
Kid Pharaon and the Lonely Ones come closer to that mid-eighties sense of
underground pop modes. Pretty melodic and well-produced, great sounding and
the riffs do remind me of that shard of hope I had that the mode and feel of
the seventies would live on into the next decade (this was right when I was
stuck smack dab inna middle of it!).
</p>
<p>
"Someone To Talk To" by the Shifters doesn't have the extracurricular sputum
to make it anything I would call soul-stabbing or out of the ordinary while
the Batmen's "Las Vegas" is a fairly entertaining re-write of "Shout". And
hey, I've heard of Les Thugs before but my opinion regarding them really
isn't that much different than the one I have for the Shifters. But
thankfully this group did their best to ramp up on the usual energy levels
that were lacking in a whole slew of acts purporting to be "rock & roll"
at the time, hardcore adherents included.
</p>
<p>
Hey, there's some more <b>LOLITAS </b>for my perusal, and I'm not
buying the German thing with 'em one bit since they're singing
<i>en francais</i> and do a pretty good Berlitz-y job of it as well! I
feel like Vinnie Barbarino --- so
<u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">confused</u>...
</p>
<p>
Les Coronados --- "fair". Closer to the old "six-oh" revivalists in many
ways and perhaps lacking in the swerve that most of the earlier groups in
that movement oozed making it one fine antidote to all of the anti-rock
hijinx that were happening at the time.
</p>
<p>
As far as Les Gloires Locales go, they approach trash punk aesthetics with
some sixties input like all good (and trad rad) punks were tending to do
during those days.
</p>
<p>
Closing it all out are two tracks by the French Dogs, a band who really got
a lotta fanzine press during the eighties perhaps because there wasn't
really that much else going on to write about. Their contribs don't seem as
forceful as their early trackage but these Chiens really did give us true
bleu rock 'n rollers some hope that it wasn't all gonna be blanded out into
unrecognizable pus. A good enough cap on a collection of French goodies that
I think shoulda gotten more'n just a honorable mention on this side of the
aisle, <i>ifyaknowaddamean...</i>
</p><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote><p><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyrhh5ygwQBlQLZHzC-HUnNlzp1SSt6UcJmHyya5cUFo794zTMIvyyMmcNtruaSpbcilOADSosS-A2gN8cQKUgjgixa8F0Qw2QKPnlCJrlPRVtqS6_Ws6weiuCcIOk6YTQipib_IoiGUVtWZiqTYg4Co_p4tLAcW76ZRZFIxu0J-SHI5lWCAo-gQ/s1099/Grys-Grys.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1099" data-original-width="1080" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyrhh5ygwQBlQLZHzC-HUnNlzp1SSt6UcJmHyya5cUFo794zTMIvyyMmcNtruaSpbcilOADSosS-A2gN8cQKUgjgixa8F0Qw2QKPnlCJrlPRVtqS6_Ws6weiuCcIOk6YTQipib_IoiGUVtWZiqTYg4Co_p4tLAcW76ZRZFIxu0J-SHI5lWCAo-gQ/w196-h200/Grys-Grys.jpg" width="196" /></a></b></div><b>LES GRYS-GRYS CD-r burn (originally on </b><b><a href="https://groovierecords.bandcamp.com/album/les-grys-grys-st-lp">Groovie Records</a></b><b>)</b><p></p><p>A modern-day "six-oh" revival group that, like the better groups from that long-lived genre, actually sounds authentic from the recording quality to the overtly-Pretty Things-esque performance. With some early Who thrown because, why not? Ain't been goin' googie over these kinda groups for awhile (or at least until the bands that inspired 'em started to get reissued) but somehow les Grys-Grys has me flashing back to the v. early-eighties when money was scarce and Creation singles even scarcer. I still kept all my old Systematic and Rough Trade catalogs, so this 'un <i>should</i> resonate in me somewhat. </p><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote><p><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL49DIhmLP_-1W5C2cBHu06wGyBmif9Odvys05X4KOp-YzMLH7UPPXUr0yGmIfz-j_kVv57RLUTu3ryQrOlbC-1jBFyiD7SPZo1zc0Ej4vyAkJEDkIqG5NdGohK3dx9QUzVyrxwtcSDNelTIm1IpRlXpv3wlz52W2Dzjb8gqsQQHuQpWCk-8WVVA/s741/Feelies%20Some%20kinda%20Love.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="741" data-original-width="620" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL49DIhmLP_-1W5C2cBHu06wGyBmif9Odvys05X4KOp-YzMLH7UPPXUr0yGmIfz-j_kVv57RLUTu3ryQrOlbC-1jBFyiD7SPZo1zc0Ej4vyAkJEDkIqG5NdGohK3dx9QUzVyrxwtcSDNelTIm1IpRlXpv3wlz52W2Dzjb8gqsQQHuQpWCk-8WVVA/w168-h200/Feelies%20Some%20kinda%20Love.jpg" width="168" /></a></b></div><b>The Feelies-SOME KINDA LOVE CD-r burn (originally on BarNone Records)</b><p></p><p>Y'all know that I never was anywhere <i>near</i> being a Feelies fanatic the way many people out there who shoulda known better've been for nigh on forty-five years. So it would be startling to you to read that I find these tunes taken from a show consisting of nothing but Velvet Underground covers (which is a bad idea in itself, or at least it was for the past fifty years) faithful enough, and perhaps even downright enjoyable. Of course it ain't as beautifully and clandestinely subversive as that all-VU Plastic People of the Universe live show that they snuck under the auspices of the Communists by turning it into a lecture but still, it's great enough for my own sense of what's prim 'n proper.</p><p></p><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote><p></p>
<p>
These <a href="https://black2com.blogspot.com/2023/02/what-do-all-these-creatures-have-in.html">fanzines</a> have been getting a bad rap for ages already, and if you really are
that curious to find out why then, as the old cliche goes,
<i style="font-weight: bold;">what's stopping you???</i> Buy 'em by the
bag and have a good time wallowing in your usual self-important indignation
while maybe learning a thing or two about your favorite musical act that has probably been disproven over
the years.
</p>
<p></p></div></div>Christopher Stiglianohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17107248034597839482noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6910067.post-32484728488077940352023-11-04T13:36:00.002-04:002023-11-04T18:28:19.779-04:00<div><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(Well Ray Dio Byrdman, you wanted a new post and, unfortunately, you <u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">GOT</u> it!)</span></div><div><br /></div><div>
Here I am, Mister
<b><u style="font-style: italic;">PERSONA</u><i> </i><u style="font-style: italic;">NON</u><i> </i><u style="font-style: italic;">GRATIS</u> </b>himself once again with a batch of personal frivolities and recording reviews
for you to either take or leave and I know it's gonna be the former. And if
you're wonderin' why I'm referring to myself in such deprecating terms well,
once again I have to get something off my chest in typical Gypsy Rose Lee
fashion --- mainly the plain fact that it is starting to bug me
<b><i>EVEN MORE THAN USUAL</i></b> that I've been treated so shabbily by just
about everyone in this thing that we used to call "rock fandom". Y'know, on
one hand it is irritating in typical stick-in-my-craw fashion thinking back
upon less halcyon days and remembering just how many of my former compats have
deserted me for whatever not-so-strange reasons there may be (and yeah, we
know what they all are!). I mean sheesh, it wasn't like I was antagonizing anybody and we were gettin' along so fine and
being rather buddy-buddy copasetic for quite awhile without personal nuances
and swelled senses of importance getting in the way of our "friendships". But then the knives were
pulled out and a lotta stab wounds were found on my back and well, lesser
types do like to skedaddle a sinking ship so to speak and turn on people when
them chips are way down, and I should know having experienced all of this
first hand and thinking about it does kinda dig into me like an undigested
peanut stuck in one's colon.
</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>
Then again I'm kinda
<u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">GLAD</u> that a good
portion of my readership has felt so offended and shamed by my writings, especially when these same blokes don't mind offending and shaming people
themselves and in a pretty hoity-toity my species is better than yours way at that. I
kinda get the idea (at least from watching the spiritual decendents [no sic]
of my former buddies via Libs of Tic Tok) that these precious petunia types
actually think that it's their natural birthright (them being so blessed and
all) to have cut all ties and berate me the way they have. Was I actually so antagonistic to these people in an overtly boistrous way? Perhaps they do
this only to masturbate their (I guess) fragile egos and sense of esteem, or
maybe they are as prissy and as uptight as the new leftists (who are the
spiritual spawn of those "uplifters" seen in DW Griffith films) have been for
quite some time lacking any of the tolerance they claim to exude like pus from a syphilitic penis. </div><div><br /></div><div>It would be the best explanation for their utter contempt for
me and, once you get to the heart of these folks' general attitudes and
behavior, it only confirms my deeply held convictions that people really
<i>are</i> shit after all. Given the tendency of the likes of Jay Hinman
(I forgive, but in no way will I forget) and Ken Shimamoto to go out of their
way to treat me as hideous as they have I've begun to realize that I really
can't love my neighbor let alone be tolerant of anything that I find offensive even in the slightest. And if you think I'm being nothing by a big crybaby about it what do you want me to do. walk away with a smile? Hey, I really could direct a few things your way that might get quite a few of you doing some major league sniffling but I am (really!) trying to keep my temper in control.</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>
To put it in simpler terms, I gotta eschew any shard of the humanist cop-out
(as Wayne McGuire so succinctly put it) that has been shoved down my throat
ever since entering them hallowed halls of grade school. I've come to realize a good long time ago that a good portion of the people who are involved in rock fandom were, and maybe are, massive hypocrites who believe themselves to be superior in any way shape and form to lesser forms of life like myself. Frankly, people like this can
only be handled by shoving the same anti-life evil straight back into their
faces, so if I am treating you with respect and kindness it does mean that I
hold you in some sort of exalted fashion and that you are one of the rare
ones. However that just might change. Other than that, I'd enjoy seeing you
all take a swan dive into the La Brea Tar Pits.
</div><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<div>
Now it's funtime, or so I hope. Anyhow, despite the opening rant of pure
hate I must admit that things <i>can</i> be somewhat jolly around here
if I put my mind to it (well, most all of it was written before I got into my bad mood mode which was set off by the discovery of a person who did some stabbing himself's own blog and boy did those feeling just come rushing back like the water breaking on a pregnant fifty foot woman). Not that there's much to have fun with in these days
of cyborg anti-emotion but still, if I look hard enough I can ooze into that
awed-out feeling of total suburban slob bliss. </div><div><br /></div><div>Why just yesterday I spent a
good hour or three listening to old albums (of the vinyl variety even) while
reading a few of the writeups I got via RocksBackPages a few years back.
Gotta say that the mix of Charles Shaar Murray and Giovanni Dadomo on the
printed page with Iggy Pop and the (original pre-jazz fusion)
Mothers of Invention on the stereo sure goes swell and like, if I hadda spend the rest of my
life just goofin' off and indulging in such heavenly blitz I'd consider myself
way better off'n any of you will ever be!
</div><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<div>
Hey, if you missed out on Paul Morley's 1976 fanzine <b>OUT THERE</b> you
can always eyeball a kinda/sorta virtual copy <a href="https://www.mdmarchive.co.uk/exhibition/296/fanzine:-out-there">here</a>! Don't say I don't go 'round doin' nuthin'
<b><u style="font-style: italic;">good</u> </b>fer ya! And if you decide
to print the thing out on glossy paper digest-sized you'll get a close
approximation of what the real deal looked like, devious fanzine lover you
most certainly are and which you most certainly will remain.
</div><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
I just <u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">LOVE</u> goofing
around with Artificial Intelligence and made even <i>more</i> whacked out
pix for my own (and maybe even yours as well) personal pleasure. I get a wild
kick outta whatever does pop up what with their inherent absurdities which come
off like those weirdo dreams that pull images from all over the psyche that I
have with an alarming frequency, all fleshed out and quite puzzling in their lack of logic so-to-speak. And something tells me that you never saw Sky Saxon and the
Seeds looking like this!
<div><br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1uKhGHh0T89zeRo19YxFh47zRuMQCZyl34b-XCQkD-xwwV84yzsM_u42o463UA5o3pDtVq_69dbwWaO5gXAtXqCS7FUeRLAClzCdkcD3g1FtJ9G_LTBvhHPBzJd9XHLTmX9kBx-7beVoWgmtsPn_ZqFlQzEc5mihzEfd8TocATgSPHPKBswF_Ew/s1024/SKy%20Saxon%20and%20the%20Seeds%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1uKhGHh0T89zeRo19YxFh47zRuMQCZyl34b-XCQkD-xwwV84yzsM_u42o463UA5o3pDtVq_69dbwWaO5gXAtXqCS7FUeRLAClzCdkcD3g1FtJ9G_LTBvhHPBzJd9XHLTmX9kBx-7beVoWgmtsPn_ZqFlQzEc5mihzEfd8TocATgSPHPKBswF_Ew/w640-h640/SKy%20Saxon%20and%20the%20Seeds%201.jpg" width="640" /></a>
</div>
<br />
<div>I guess this is supposed to be Jan Savage.</div>
<div><br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYWXt7mI4224qAfzl4jD_IX7LQ3KQi-tJ4M68N824Ao1H-GD9YtbCJKFTY78-0AwlDbdKW8S7cflsefL_Fi8Hk-Q9laPYGocEnl-RXA8mH0-LZLG8Z6H44jvr48nclMO6wikXeZV1twsUA9wQvtxbvFiuwomjnBfNvrs8wdOUvW-qPA9Pm4DDAFg/s1024/Sky%20Saxon%20and%20the%20Seeds%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYWXt7mI4224qAfzl4jD_IX7LQ3KQi-tJ4M68N824Ao1H-GD9YtbCJKFTY78-0AwlDbdKW8S7cflsefL_Fi8Hk-Q9laPYGocEnl-RXA8mH0-LZLG8Z6H44jvr48nclMO6wikXeZV1twsUA9wQvtxbvFiuwomjnBfNvrs8wdOUvW-qPA9Pm4DDAFg/w640-h640/Sky%20Saxon%20and%20the%20Seeds%202.jpg" width="640" /></a>
</div>
<br />
<div>And this Seed looks like he'd be more at home in Guns 'n Roses.</div>
<div><br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqUpOqRnNJ1qCbbHm0ttYpQS10KA84ox8uepwrGatwui2LBwk7tPRbLPRmgFNXBSPXmIutu-nDCkPCA2YV3eInKCgRn9Vnleff-8VrGBKV3ngNqVAmLspcjrAlpPCowvwSL1IihNE0ZAk_PGt-13H2t_a0LLNpAhX3u6Bi0rOYiCwuykpkrHkbqA/s1024/Sky%20Saxon%20and%20the%20Seeds%203.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqUpOqRnNJ1qCbbHm0ttYpQS10KA84ox8uepwrGatwui2LBwk7tPRbLPRmgFNXBSPXmIutu-nDCkPCA2YV3eInKCgRn9Vnleff-8VrGBKV3ngNqVAmLspcjrAlpPCowvwSL1IihNE0ZAk_PGt-13H2t_a0LLNpAhX3u6Bi0rOYiCwuykpkrHkbqA/w640-h640/Sky%20Saxon%20and%20the%20Seeds%203.jpg" width="640" /></a>
</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>
This pic was taken at a jam session featuring Frank Zappa, Captain Beefheart,
Alice Cooper and Tim Buckley. There are obviously
<u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">TWO</u> Zappas in the
pic and that just might be Beefheart playing drums complete with a cymbal on the (I think it is a) floor tom. Who knows, that also might be Beefheart playing the other guitar making me wonder where Alice and Tim are.</div>
<div><br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJL2Pn3X12uuMroAThW7cjjkT40LEfUOBiM5dgQXNOKZTIJWSG09yHU4spDee_EuddnLIrtu2EVXWNN_7hsi5Qv6RmEiWoTAKJPJ9uzdsMyWXVWeND_VQvmfbpRUbGUCi7IIYbFPjYqY6aeLkeAjwHYiixRFqqEnWDcQ1S8lM9m7F0nCAOdMzDCA/s719/Zappa%20Jam.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="708" data-original-width="719" height="630" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJL2Pn3X12uuMroAThW7cjjkT40LEfUOBiM5dgQXNOKZTIJWSG09yHU4spDee_EuddnLIrtu2EVXWNN_7hsi5Qv6RmEiWoTAKJPJ9uzdsMyWXVWeND_VQvmfbpRUbGUCi7IIYbFPjYqY6aeLkeAjwHYiixRFqqEnWDcQ1S8lM9m7F0nCAOdMzDCA/w640-h630/Zappa%20Jam.png" width="640" /></a>
</div>
<div><br /></div>
The following three are movie posters for the Don Fellman classic
<b>A NUMBER LIKE N</b>:
<div><br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKQrI1doGGudtB4GgK9ru7U4wJcnaXAZIHC1vNIKjmuQ2WDTWeft08eba55Y83n_tO1ud8XSMlJ41-HmW2Yf87E2DhAplj9Wi0YewjQhM0s-Da7fIiHwGZL3kch9ku3tSIoghF7rD3TicpUgPW_xi5p3QjF_s-rjcCgWuXjJ59Ru8pGGckc9-4wQ/s1024/A%20NUMBER%20LIKE%20N%20poster.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKQrI1doGGudtB4GgK9ru7U4wJcnaXAZIHC1vNIKjmuQ2WDTWeft08eba55Y83n_tO1ud8XSMlJ41-HmW2Yf87E2DhAplj9Wi0YewjQhM0s-Da7fIiHwGZL3kch9ku3tSIoghF7rD3TicpUgPW_xi5p3QjF_s-rjcCgWuXjJ59Ru8pGGckc9-4wQ/w640-h640/A%20NUMBER%20LIKE%20N%20poster.jpg" width="640" /></a>
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVSZzZAkVFRQ1bdnpPc3kK8YB3EoPX6dFkMzEMGrzWs1tIcBz4lM9Kh51NKue_sbAYJ0pGkuVWtxEdUqFBAfGf2uqeYptjs8FboRPJsr3vpV5cq6F-cfwcV6i1LQ91hiwt2QpZYUSEA6QgMEdJFe2vVqsSfi7Macjp5dJgmOZWzn_aXDkpkWXCLw/s1024/A%20Number%20Like%20N.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVSZzZAkVFRQ1bdnpPc3kK8YB3EoPX6dFkMzEMGrzWs1tIcBz4lM9Kh51NKue_sbAYJ0pGkuVWtxEdUqFBAfGf2uqeYptjs8FboRPJsr3vpV5cq6F-cfwcV6i1LQ91hiwt2QpZYUSEA6QgMEdJFe2vVqsSfi7Macjp5dJgmOZWzn_aXDkpkWXCLw/w640-h640/A%20Number%20Like%20N.jpg" width="640" /></a>
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjVRJY3EcYjNJszi79V8lP3vv30120SWaxIjHaq440ydiKYB53YxTNiYCxUZZpzMQt9Y8bMkxl6cHDLN5aaFajDWKiy8wfySRwEaF9E-QaMnwL1bX9LamXQOZDp730t392WgkMDNhuwEXa_CnQrd6LXIcopCmApXJwsyHr953PQMuv5IgOYpMo4w/s1024/Fellman%20Movie.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjVRJY3EcYjNJszi79V8lP3vv30120SWaxIjHaq440ydiKYB53YxTNiYCxUZZpzMQt9Y8bMkxl6cHDLN5aaFajDWKiy8wfySRwEaF9E-QaMnwL1bX9LamXQOZDp730t392WgkMDNhuwEXa_CnQrd6LXIcopCmApXJwsyHr953PQMuv5IgOYpMo4w/w640-h640/Fellman%20Movie.jpg" width="640" /></a>
</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>
The following are two covers for the unreleased third Velvet Underground
(excuse me, "Ublased Oovndgorund" or is it "Veet: Siveer Andougiriand"???)
album with John Cale featuring "Sweet Sister Ray" --- hmmm, that second one
looks like a good candidate for an actual Velvets bootleg!
</div>
<div><br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjElKCIYDKe99P13mw_E02sQYnkrIOAJxxrlm5hUpMBOUJUUbiBTBp5dlTJbGOqo8d18hBSwkMvFDUKvERAUcGaU7tQLJmL5xKtuADlzR09GacLE1dwqIVpEaT579q0bf53v3M9RyA9xjbXaMojnMGcysDFEZNLDn_ZlPl0Lc4nZRW3s-BRSKY9yg/s1080/Velvet%20Underground%20fake%20cover.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjElKCIYDKe99P13mw_E02sQYnkrIOAJxxrlm5hUpMBOUJUUbiBTBp5dlTJbGOqo8d18hBSwkMvFDUKvERAUcGaU7tQLJmL5xKtuADlzR09GacLE1dwqIVpEaT579q0bf53v3M9RyA9xjbXaMojnMGcysDFEZNLDn_ZlPl0Lc4nZRW3s-BRSKY9yg/w640-h640/Velvet%20Underground%20fake%20cover.png" width="640" /></a>
</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH-dsXRdgnC6z5MutPj2ELVBdeRBpDq_ngp8QSF3gq0giehB9pB4lfeRjZiNrKAgiyxcZd8ZZ0O3k_GHo6G-nuKDz4xkiWStyEwDOxJyOOtxYtIuGWF6sBSXiUBsEAQjPNjXanvLhFSA-YCiID0SIV_srMcdIiSSEm2paLPvqp7k1HUQdvwNWDwA/s1080/Velvet%20Underground%20fake%20cover%202.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH-dsXRdgnC6z5MutPj2ELVBdeRBpDq_ngp8QSF3gq0giehB9pB4lfeRjZiNrKAgiyxcZd8ZZ0O3k_GHo6G-nuKDz4xkiWStyEwDOxJyOOtxYtIuGWF6sBSXiUBsEAQjPNjXanvLhFSA-YCiID0SIV_srMcdIiSSEm2paLPvqp7k1HUQdvwNWDwA/w640-h640/Velvet%20Underground%20fake%20cover%202.png" width="640" /></a>
</div>
<div><br /></div><div>AI really screwed up the pic I wanted here! I guess I better learn how to give better descriptions of what I'm looking for.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnodk_b9ySlUUfSlTMw5Y5l7HVJTul35FJY7o6WKzVpjudiYTRjVPDpGN_LsGrhYqR9M33aPIWWdumY-DX87J3p9629jFVdMjJpSQHGarCMUskiXxWQHijh_67iJWoaHNh51EvIE-CTIl5g5ns9v1V_8xdBJ_Scfaoq3QX11Hzq_cSgyVRRYj2xg/s723/black%20kid%20in%20school.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="723" data-original-width="716" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnodk_b9ySlUUfSlTMw5Y5l7HVJTul35FJY7o6WKzVpjudiYTRjVPDpGN_LsGrhYqR9M33aPIWWdumY-DX87J3p9629jFVdMjJpSQHGarCMUskiXxWQHijh_67iJWoaHNh51EvIE-CTIl5g5ns9v1V_8xdBJ_Scfaoq3QX11Hzq_cSgyVRRYj2xg/w634-h640/black%20kid%20in%20school.png" width="634" /></a></div><div><br /></div>
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Here's a pic that reminds me of a late-thirties vintage Salvador
Dali/Norman Rockwell flub-a-dub. I especially like the way that extra calf
extends from the blonde's left leg similar to the male pant leg emanating from the teacher above. And that fellow seen in the center of
the pic is supposed to be Spanky McFarland.
</div>
<div>
<div><br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Q64-w0KtiEsTuDrZk6Xh_qZss-IjHqKV_3HaxqQLv6Emdr6NSGZKdivjwGlR-LQQxGjmO_uTEz_jJTx48nIpGbFhJfYLx8q_Nf4DQbNa-x4aMVOv-qzHn8jSUKhFF__eRTlpIRntXYa5ymBQzNfowCXCM3YhjaTPckcyfJDq1BVyuBP03cJ_Sg/s1024/rockwell.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Q64-w0KtiEsTuDrZk6Xh_qZss-IjHqKV_3HaxqQLv6Emdr6NSGZKdivjwGlR-LQQxGjmO_uTEz_jJTx48nIpGbFhJfYLx8q_Nf4DQbNa-x4aMVOv-qzHn8jSUKhFF__eRTlpIRntXYa5ymBQzNfowCXCM3YhjaTPckcyfJDq1BVyuBP03cJ_Sg/w640-h640/rockwell.jpg" width="640" /></a><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote></div>
<div>
Have a few winners in here that you might feel like swiping next time you go
to the record shop --- that is if there just happens to be a record shop in
your neck of the area and you didn't ditch your oversized raincoat. Paul McGarry is to be thanked and is certainly not one on my ever-growing shit list.</div><div><br /></div>
<div>
<div>
<p><b></b></p>
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<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnxq5wfrwZQexGtwy56aeGo2vVNCFUsrbvKXxihTUVn0YSsNTUmgXwcT0imCnNG5tGGKNGStRPquSOOjaedZxXOSErTnLBz7bWmPAB8epmrSwALc8OHe254TSU-WDEMFGs3b7_eZ1H7Nnd2nbuQmCjE80jLFBnpZtE5YqUluFF7gqrFm0nP7s4bg/s600/Desnudes%2072%20and%2080.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnxq5wfrwZQexGtwy56aeGo2vVNCFUsrbvKXxihTUVn0YSsNTUmgXwcT0imCnNG5tGGKNGStRPquSOOjaedZxXOSErTnLBz7bWmPAB8epmrSwALc8OHe254TSU-WDEMFGs3b7_eZ1H7Nnd2nbuQmCjE80jLFBnpZtE5YqUluFF7gqrFm0nP7s4bg/w200-h200/Desnudes%2072%20and%2080.jpg" width="200" /></a></b>
</div>
<b>Les Rallizes Denudes-STUDIO SESSIONS 1972 & 1980 LP (Take It Acid
Is Records, Italy)</b>
<p></p>
<p>
Side one's got that previously ish'd 23-minute instrumental rave which
reminds me of Dave Allen and the Arrows taken to even more gear-grinding
extremes. Well, it's a good excuse for me to hear it again considering I
dunno where in my collection I can find the original. "A Tale of Love"
which starts off the second side takes the pressure down a few notches
but still delivers on some prime blast while yet another version of
"Field of Artificial Flowers" caps the thing off sounding quite
late-sixties Amerigan garage band stoic! These might be available on one
of the many Denudes quickie Cee Dee burns that cluttered up ebay a good
two decades back so if you missed out on the carnage the first time you
have a chance to redeem your sorry self.
</p><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote><p>
</p>
<p><b></b></p>
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<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpKdqn9qzby7oEbZsYEnOE5SPdlf8uZV8e_dzKrbM1MBifcMJ4o5An9v0iJRWKtglsfdJyuJ5Dqw718V1x7HHv8yen6nhyphenhyphenU-_HPziIXIinmDG4zeUgpc2d0dtoWC2MPvXqpU1p5k6BKU7kRC-bLjkbgugk_98mssW8K9AXc6UCar_05tNawZBjSA/s1080/20.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1071" data-original-width="1080" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpKdqn9qzby7oEbZsYEnOE5SPdlf8uZV8e_dzKrbM1MBifcMJ4o5An9v0iJRWKtglsfdJyuJ5Dqw718V1x7HHv8yen6nhyphenhyphenU-_HPziIXIinmDG4zeUgpc2d0dtoWC2MPvXqpU1p5k6BKU7kRC-bLjkbgugk_98mssW8K9AXc6UCar_05tNawZBjSA/w200-h198/20.jpg" width="200" /></a></b>
</div>
<b>15-60-75-20 CD (Reedurban Records, PO Box 80007, Canton, OH 44708)</b>
<p></p>
<p>
Nobody that I know seems to remember this early oughts collection chock
fulla Numbers Band recordings from '74 up until the mid-eighties, and to
this NE Ohio camp follower that is a dang ol' shame.
</p>
<p>
Robert Kidney is, as you'd expect given his pronounced passion and
energy, at the top of his form doing alla them things those "rock poets"
we oh so admired way back when were famed for. Given the lack of "look
at me" pretension perhaps he did it even better. The band, as you
would've expected all these years later, delivers on what Laughner
called "voodoo music" making most if not all of those other white r/b
acts sound particularly stilted in comparison.
</p>
<p>
The Numbers do come off a little more rock 'n roll than usual (at least
on the eighties-vintage numbers) which surprises but doesn't bother me
one iota and man, after listening to all of the down-to-it that the
group delivers it sure is a mystery why this band didn't break through
like <b>BIG</b>. (Knew a guy who saw 'em ca. '74 and he was stymied they
didn't overtake the entire sphere!) "Stolen Cadillac", the oldest track
in the batch, was produced by fames Ann Arbor somethingorother John
Sinclair which should count for some musically significant brownie
points.
</p>
<p>
Dunno if the address above is still valid but if you want it, you'll try
as hard as you can to obtain. (<b>TRUE STORY</b>: I played "Not Fade
Away" for my cyster and she thought it was Elvis! Reminds me of the time
when I was watching the Music Machine on television and my mother
thought they were the Beatles which proves that some things happily do
not change!)
</p><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote></div><div>
</div>
<div>
<b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSInAJS_0NxqqNKImhZWMLVHXk8TiylkTqgUFLvdOp-Rp76T6Ypfu9uUHvs41IdF8FGSqSMuDhYwUIOE1CItzRmw4uhiKU7Nw-gPcNYSRPwoDmJZj6uCXxhMwGYKaqEcoCXh_h_A6MPgI5Hvei7hpuJnMzRCof2_xDQkWVfqE_jmOq5UnOzKOVQA/s620/nude%20party.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="615" data-original-width="620" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSInAJS_0NxqqNKImhZWMLVHXk8TiylkTqgUFLvdOp-Rp76T6Ypfu9uUHvs41IdF8FGSqSMuDhYwUIOE1CItzRmw4uhiKU7Nw-gPcNYSRPwoDmJZj6uCXxhMwGYKaqEcoCXh_h_A6MPgI5Hvei7hpuJnMzRCof2_xDQkWVfqE_jmOq5UnOzKOVQA/w200-h198/nude%20party.jpg" width="200" /></a>
</div>
The Nude Party-MIDNIGHT MANOR CD-r burn (originally on New West
Records)</b>
<p></p>
<div>
I was once invited to a nude party but didn't go because I didn't have
anything to wear! Now that I got my bad gag joke outta the way lemme
just say that this is an interesting item, a fairly good effort even
though it's something that (as usual) I probably wouldn't listen to
again. It has a nice tinge of late-sixties pop to it and the cuts that
sound like Todd's "I Saw The Light" were something I didn't hafta
struggle through. Somehow I get the idea that this, had it actually come
out 'round the turn of them decades (sixties unto seventies), would have
made a great flea market find a good ten or so years later.
</div><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhsAmD6P0NBKo14Pl8gGXd5xsgUWRFBhEBi58nhWx_hVbRyNY68Og-cOyfeRgfl8_B-rZhVN2ZgKgkzE-y3TTkd2V9SMdiDh2OETEKk6zm9YPL49WWFqt6PEKwvisEeeCmZxAHtGPO-hXNpoxDcC0naQ_Uwf1UgMmScBhIORksB01KiQb-P9DMLUA" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="200" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhsAmD6P0NBKo14Pl8gGXd5xsgUWRFBhEBi58nhWx_hVbRyNY68Og-cOyfeRgfl8_B-rZhVN2ZgKgkzE-y3TTkd2V9SMdiDh2OETEKk6zm9YPL49WWFqt6PEKwvisEeeCmZxAHtGPO-hXNpoxDcC0naQ_Uwf1UgMmScBhIORksB01KiQb-P9DMLUA=w200-h194" width="200" /></a>
</div>
<b>F.U.2.-PUNK ROCK CD-r burn (originally on Beat Records, England)</b>
</div>
<div><p></p></div>
<p>
This punk rock cash-in recorded by the Downliners Sect really does a
lot, not only for punk bandwagon jumping but for the cause of punk rock
itself. Actually surpasses its kitsch bargain bin trappings to become a
legit contender to the realm what with it (almost) coming off like what
an actual Raw Records Sect album woulda had someone thought of slapping
one together. (I think one was recorded --- 's been so long I can't
remember.) Now if someone'd only reissue that punk exploito platter where
various Sect members along with future Pretender James Honeyman-Scott
slapped out some more of these cash-in punk classics complete with a
Standells cover (and perhaps even more <b>NUGGET-</b>y treats) tossed
in!
</p><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<p></p>
<p></p>
<p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiJcHngLn08pnsTe55kHGPVJvUflGR9dPk3C8iwWZlbCkZwkWpCX8xptMzCVhUIEW8Sc85CZZ6qchgfI2vmFSFFjSDma50WJOmnnzYCIgHOrY6HU3BrFzi1nn7zTq75tU2EaI9jiVuGpJiRnvlNwDaEhdPl4jmEG5PrZe2jWAgwcFrbhAVC4ATnyQ" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" b="" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiJcHngLn08pnsTe55kHGPVJvUflGR9dPk3C8iwWZlbCkZwkWpCX8xptMzCVhUIEW8Sc85CZZ6qchgfI2vmFSFFjSDma50WJOmnnzYCIgHOrY6HU3BrFzi1nn7zTq75tU2EaI9jiVuGpJiRnvlNwDaEhdPl4jmEG5PrZe2jWAgwcFrbhAVC4ATnyQ=w200-h200" width="200" /></a>
</p>
<b>Polygraph Lounge-THE EP CD (Polygraph Lounge Records)</b>
<div><br /></div>
<div>
I've wanted to know about these multi-instrumentalists ever since I
tuned into a CB's 313 Gallery cybercast only to see the two of 'em
packing up a massive amount of gear that even made the Art Ensemble of
Chicago's barrage look scant. Fifteen or so years later I finally got
the opportunity to hear 'em and like, I am somewhat impressed. The PDQ
Bach and Spike Jones angle does not appeal to me and the country spoof
might be a bit too obvious, but Polygraph Lounge do deliver on some
interesting soundsqualls and parody that doesn't make you think this is
some nauseating Ray Stevens "take off" not even worth a listen. The live
re-do of "The Nutcracker" actually hit a positive nerve in the grey room
and would make for a bright Christmas track to spin on my own podcast if
I only had one. A once-in-awhile effort that I hope I'll be able to find
in my massive collection when I do want to hear it again.
<p></p><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjSHMoELfsCfXY5vn5t1AIOkhoR1x86QXTphkerFOWWp8iz1pzW2XZbrBJL6WoAMqoF4e6c_KbOrQ9N23n8m1qVdLln-gC8WHMIi1op84rLJ0d_Gd62zSzgM0vQdIPdaboL95sGfQn8tQWBbBV5Tn72_DRfQk749n5aPweBYIGxkpVI0SVZ0Djk0g" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="179" data-original-width="200" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjSHMoELfsCfXY5vn5t1AIOkhoR1x86QXTphkerFOWWp8iz1pzW2XZbrBJL6WoAMqoF4e6c_KbOrQ9N23n8m1qVdLln-gC8WHMIi1op84rLJ0d_Gd62zSzgM0vQdIPdaboL95sGfQn8tQWBbBV5Tn72_DRfQk749n5aPweBYIGxkpVI0SVZ0Djk0g=w200-h179" width="200" /></a></b>
</div>
<b>Johnny Dowd-HOMEMADE PIE CD-r burn (originally on Mother Jinx
Records)</b>
<p></p>
<p>
Like a lotta these new country twang unto rock recordings this becomes
tiresome and perhaps even trite within a few cuts. Since I never did
cozy up to the Dwight Yoakum type of giddyap perhaps I shouldn't be
reviewing this, but given I'm in a particularly angry mood (wrote this <i>after</i> I did that opening schpiel) I feel it
safer to do my venting via this here writeup rather than go out and
sock some ol' granny inna jaw. One of those recordings that some
nimnul out there will think I gave an unfair review to and that I
should have listened to it about fifty times in order to absorb its
nuances and that I'm such a horrible writer anyway so take <i style="font-weight: bold;">that</i> along with your run on sentences and who cares what you think
anyway even though I did go out of my way to deliver this hatescreed to you
etc. and so forth. Sheesh, if I could only <u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">PICK</u> my readership!
</p><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<p><b></b></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;">I used to get really frothing at the mouth mad back when various pundits would </span><u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: left;">PURPOSEFULLY</u><span style="text-align: left;"> spew misinformation about my </span><a href="https://black2com.blogspot.com/2023/02/what-do-all-these-creatures-have-in.html" style="text-align: left;">fanzine</a><span style="text-align: left;"> for whatever not-so-occult purposes they may have so desired.
Well, if you want to find out if said scribes were on-target or not
with their ideas then you can always latch onto one or hopefully even
more back issues by clicking on the highlighted word "fanzine" above.
You too might want to see the truth revealed for once, or at least
help me get back some needed dollars by buying something that should
have been purchased ages back and then you wouldn't have to be reading
these pathetic pleads at the end of most of these bigtime posts now,
would you?</span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Christopher Stiglianohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17107248034597839482noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6910067.post-37770745709223901322023-10-26T21:27:00.005-04:002023-12-24T10:37:30.716-05:00<p>
So many records and so little money! Well not really as far as the moolah
goes, but I'm trying to save at least a sliver of my bank account for my
ever-approaching old age even if by that time the only thing I will be able to
afford will be banged up cans of beans found in the dumpster behind Dollar
General. But man there are some items being plunked onto the "market" that I'd
sure like holding in my once come-stained mitts but the price tag usually has
me shudderin' in sticker shock. For example, take the recent re-<i>re-</i><u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">REPACKAGING</u> of the
Hawkwind <b>SPACE RITUAL</b> extravaganza (this time as a ten-disc set complete with a blu ray which means nada to me and a thick
enough book to peruse through it all) which is sure tempting but is going for upwards of three-hundred-something dollars!!! Thankfully there
are a few items that are just within the realm of my pocketbook, that is if I don't go hog wild and "pour my money down a rat hole" as I was told while growing up and wanting a quarter for some candy. </p><p><b>THE BAD NEWS</b>: when I tally up the cost of even all of the less pocketbook-pounding items I would
sure love to have and to hold the total can be quite staggering, but thankfully there's always ramen to help out on one's entertainment budget. Surprisingly enough considering my financial straits I managed to get <b><i><u>ONE</u></i></b> hot off
the press item that I'll gladly blab about this go 'round, but still those care
packages I get from Paul McGarry and Robert Forward sure do help out a whole load ('n not <i style="font-weight: bold;">that</i> kinda "load" you stupid perv you!).<b></b></p><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<p>
Other things that have been accomplished since we last met --- well, not that
much though I have been getting in my share of thrills doing things that only
a true rockist would dare to do here so late in the rock died in 1968 but its
malady lingers on game. Things like rock 'n roll-related reading when I have the time
including quite a few old classic-era fanzines, the ones which were reporting
on a rock 'n roll re-birth (or maybe even <i>after</i>-birth) that was
blossoming before many a wide eye during the mid-seventies. Also eyeballed recently was the book that
was enclosed with the Peter Laughner 5-LP set which collects a good portion of
the man's --- er --- <i>"rock criticism"</i> (yech!). Them Laughner
records haven't touched needle since I first spun 'em way back when, but the
book has been opened a few times and reading his opines lifted outta ancient issues of <b>CREEM</b> and various small Cleveland
papers really is inspirational even when he's writing about something most of
us care nothing about. Like with all of our favorite seventies scribes, Laughner's prose is as musical as the sounds he
was describing, even <i>invigorating </i>to the point where his commentaries re. everything from Lou Reed to even Rory Gallagher sure makes me wish I was born
five-ten years earlier and aware of the music being made (it
wasn't like essentials such as Iggy Pop and Beefheart were exactly prevailing on the radio dial) and that I
had the money to afford it all and that I possessed a state-of-the-art stereo
system and had parents who weren't so uptight about my personal tastes in
sound/literature and...do I need to go <b><i>on???</i></b>
</p>
<blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote><p>Another thing that's been occupying my dwindling free hours has been goofing around on the internet with Artificial Intelligence, which I somehow tend to feel could be just as hazardous to one's state of nervous system as fooling around with sub-atomic particles. Threw a few interesting ideas into the ol' AI generator and came up with (at times since some of my suggestions were seemingly impossible to translate into pictures!) a few interesting things that I sure get a hoot outta! F'rexample take these following illustrations that came up when I, off the top of my rather shiny dome, pecked out "Iggy and the Stooges at Max's Kansas City" and got the following strange wonders! This Brave New World is sure better'n anything Huxley coulda come up with!:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7DNCQUv5Ciyab30Nq_XwCsZEtRiinYtH7oFORmi3rTb7dBfUNpnBLjRuJ7Yfabq7ajU5Gpr8Nmp7Czt22pkaBdSnFRAqqV4xp849uASRkcooQPlvYlVsLluUcYytRkopK-GDMmUd94lVp0X82K933ZzLlsEB0RPc4IUb4jJBpk9dt9iRfdEwe0Q/s205/Iggy%20AI.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="205" data-original-width="200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7DNCQUv5Ciyab30Nq_XwCsZEtRiinYtH7oFORmi3rTb7dBfUNpnBLjRuJ7Yfabq7ajU5Gpr8Nmp7Czt22pkaBdSnFRAqqV4xp849uASRkcooQPlvYlVsLluUcYytRkopK-GDMmUd94lVp0X82K933ZzLlsEB0RPc4IUb4jJBpk9dt9iRfdEwe0Q/w624-h640/Iggy%20AI.png" width="624" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4944SPfqMWrsDRGLiC4EAA6bZ0lBPQLVPA28hkMeUvhIXFmzycbvh-nMoIe63IkyKCjMK6tmVGjaR7LSCvvAL9_WkxbhgY9PIU_k4qiwLba0GR3082XsyfO48fGNV5TCcjSn9bVCkiQ1YqMOtOamOwqJkQ8cyYBdOXmziJkiPDHpKlRfN9piwCg/s209/Iggy%20AI%202.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="209" data-original-width="203" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4944SPfqMWrsDRGLiC4EAA6bZ0lBPQLVPA28hkMeUvhIXFmzycbvh-nMoIe63IkyKCjMK6tmVGjaR7LSCvvAL9_WkxbhgY9PIU_k4qiwLba0GR3082XsyfO48fGNV5TCcjSn9bVCkiQ1YqMOtOamOwqJkQ8cyYBdOXmziJkiPDHpKlRfN9piwCg/w622-h640/Iggy%20AI%202.png" width="622" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi5cEYo7A0F1pWt_dZ3GgKwz_YntSCmcD6KALN0qk9u3seblEUp3Al4RRptVJF9QlNcsjrPPc0e4JuaA7zEoqvpyb3kGdkaHiZ00g5yapVAuwGBZzutTz58mzCgtS32SnZwyGrL8plcbMXZj1WpBgQT5vX8N8enQyDe3gP7l34OGkK2NzVOhk0nQ/s204/Iggy%20AI%203.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="204" data-original-width="197" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi5cEYo7A0F1pWt_dZ3GgKwz_YntSCmcD6KALN0qk9u3seblEUp3Al4RRptVJF9QlNcsjrPPc0e4JuaA7zEoqvpyb3kGdkaHiZ00g5yapVAuwGBZzutTz58mzCgtS32SnZwyGrL8plcbMXZj1WpBgQT5vX8N8enQyDe3gP7l34OGkK2NzVOhk0nQ/w618-h640/Iggy%20AI%203.png" width="618" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here're some more AI "Stooges" pics I conjured up. They don't look like 'em but I get the feeling these guys from Dimension X coulda been the ultimate heavy metal band (in the best <b>CREEM </b> magazine sense) had they actually existed! And I really gotta give credit to <u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">anyone</u> who could play those Bizarro-world electric guitars! Oh how I wanna give 'em a good listenin' to!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyqhCd6p2x8bVlmtXft80SaZjPoRa972m32_CaUf7_WjbV61QLVAQwbWmqRFIUOBf1wJfiiQTHCcGYq6tSS2dlFfWKlY5yGsO5tR8PgUKdPnxMoH22_SFPOtauwG9o1QioQYmxh17wembP3n-BdhjKEtV3aoKKCuxt1tGIwTwrlqQZ7aHycjFrNg/s1024/stooges%20fake%2010.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyqhCd6p2x8bVlmtXft80SaZjPoRa972m32_CaUf7_WjbV61QLVAQwbWmqRFIUOBf1wJfiiQTHCcGYq6tSS2dlFfWKlY5yGsO5tR8PgUKdPnxMoH22_SFPOtauwG9o1QioQYmxh17wembP3n-BdhjKEtV3aoKKCuxt1tGIwTwrlqQZ7aHycjFrNg/w640-h640/stooges%20fake%2010.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgesuvs00L97jv5frCQSHmU87_8o8BWzDt6JOZV9RH6XPjC69eDFm3pFEP1-ez3ORpzUY348SLPrWYJrSG0u419DTXN-Cc2sEPtSNAhHJY9PaSqbEU4uByjZO5rnHog8UWw8X6pqtwa5m3DlAHbSxjyIvIBdfijuCygsbom-z-dif_M8YS0w9hwIg/s1024/stooges%20fake%209.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgesuvs00L97jv5frCQSHmU87_8o8BWzDt6JOZV9RH6XPjC69eDFm3pFEP1-ez3ORpzUY348SLPrWYJrSG0u419DTXN-Cc2sEPtSNAhHJY9PaSqbEU4uByjZO5rnHog8UWw8X6pqtwa5m3DlAHbSxjyIvIBdfijuCygsbom-z-dif_M8YS0w9hwIg/w640-h640/stooges%20fake%209.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk98auXkYIuz1IzN18OoCH_q3X5dyx1JCLTHVWhYv8Qtc0U_CYL2rB5lf_rWieDY_wdmJMrDUxJMOmJ4s2HFdyHkxQXWLplnmv2JtAyGKOjz1WYs2A4wUJU7ej-bVbPTcukX3qdJ1I_ldVDwBxyxnPVFwsxacsopZHQUDV5MHJbP3pJxxGHXjbJw/s1024/Stooges%20fake%203.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk98auXkYIuz1IzN18OoCH_q3X5dyx1JCLTHVWhYv8Qtc0U_CYL2rB5lf_rWieDY_wdmJMrDUxJMOmJ4s2HFdyHkxQXWLplnmv2JtAyGKOjz1WYs2A4wUJU7ej-bVbPTcukX3qdJ1I_ldVDwBxyxnPVFwsxacsopZHQUDV5MHJbP3pJxxGHXjbJw/w640-h640/Stooges%20fake%203.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF3ofB63s2Twrdsp-PDKCmbGd_fo0OYgAxhUn6LjxVIibsh1s8XID-KE2wkAWg2WVo117-S0fB19YFPN7xhIZ7u3hJUBxrG56zK3EQKwwLRx-bykOS2GqHn1F33MpS05u2gesQXl1Od9tz9FhhRNcvcuLZq8DRM7k1L4al_wIllyEa7YKidUmgcw/s1024/stooges%20fake%2011.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF3ofB63s2Twrdsp-PDKCmbGd_fo0OYgAxhUn6LjxVIibsh1s8XID-KE2wkAWg2WVo117-S0fB19YFPN7xhIZ7u3hJUBxrG56zK3EQKwwLRx-bykOS2GqHn1F33MpS05u2gesQXl1Od9tz9FhhRNcvcuLZq8DRM7k1L4al_wIllyEa7YKidUmgcw/w640-h640/stooges%20fake%2011.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoz5kx7DwsZlEevrx4DYlucT_RyV-L61N-HZmji941AAS28mEegInYHtkasEzbM0det3vadLhGFWn4KLiH9qifIomkPpYjawP9gzdggMK3Tkov0XKJqbKrMr3BXtcDdoiuK6mu_WaVA5Cw6XX2mRcFBbOfIZ3-ihMzZi5G_iDg5qPJ8_RPu9kV6A/s1024/stooges%20fake%2014.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT039I072YNC-9NhT6BFA5c8vZGfn_GacMBRJ8pzvlH0XTwOqthr4ynumljNBaZrE8896NygobBANzUmDh4-IR8w1FwuTLdd3Ig0GiK_g53N652QgCd5XAvEAfk1jop42-AOFcnOjpJfkui2di7QrTa6oqRJWuz89ikBXpaAStVa7-9SsJuO452A/s1024/Stooges%20fake%205.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT039I072YNC-9NhT6BFA5c8vZGfn_GacMBRJ8pzvlH0XTwOqthr4ynumljNBaZrE8896NygobBANzUmDh4-IR8w1FwuTLdd3Ig0GiK_g53N652QgCd5XAvEAfk1jop42-AOFcnOjpJfkui2di7QrTa6oqRJWuz89ikBXpaAStVa7-9SsJuO452A/w640-h640/Stooges%20fake%205.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfyQlnTi9d_h-mE2ev1zklKZ6l1n5R1PqzPpSIw6jBGkijStmTtUVEZZ-LssELFiVinU6Tf33SzmCL9L9rbQbHSIcjxQIHIRiG9aYmOmSkAqRefT98OxG1-GeO49WDYTakZ5TPePpZg9sHm1OrKIEc7ro2bCuxGIod_cmZz38agpw5dttDZzwlBg/s1024/Stooges%20fake%206.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfyQlnTi9d_h-mE2ev1zklKZ6l1n5R1PqzPpSIw6jBGkijStmTtUVEZZ-LssELFiVinU6Tf33SzmCL9L9rbQbHSIcjxQIHIRiG9aYmOmSkAqRefT98OxG1-GeO49WDYTakZ5TPePpZg9sHm1OrKIEc7ro2bCuxGIod_cmZz38agpw5dttDZzwlBg/w640-h640/Stooges%20fake%206.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">And this is Lou Reed and John Cale performing on the street --- in 1965!</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQW7sU2JpA2RP9v52socEN7767oLxeG0-uiCOW9whupsrxrEdXIgO2x1-ngLRrhRBruLQHYkD3NjmExHnenVOZEMQUZYMTtlGwNLQdQOZQbbCFCEpJk4WjiGq1O2L9xFWCc0llMYz0Pakan4EwDjyZTI9ZAG9Prv2Vims3hsDVdiTL4w335o4K6Q/s1024/Lou%20Reed%20on%20street%20with%20twin.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQW7sU2JpA2RP9v52socEN7767oLxeG0-uiCOW9whupsrxrEdXIgO2x1-ngLRrhRBruLQHYkD3NjmExHnenVOZEMQUZYMTtlGwNLQdQOZQbbCFCEpJk4WjiGq1O2L9xFWCc0llMYz0Pakan4EwDjyZTI9ZAG9Prv2Vims3hsDVdiTL4w335o4K6Q/w640-h640/Lou%20Reed%20on%20street%20with%20twin.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I'm not even going to tell you what group <u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">this</u> is supposed to be!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtvfuCqIBjTNLTVGrjibARASh8nPqPqNLGBNH7GPL0sgJfhlIiiNq-9fysDjaowF37gwlW2K1DVjzvcSib5eQnk3PGTX4ULnSrJj4XiTC8jf3iXDfglBu8wV8erM3NkbCE7j6FuXowiBLWb1OwcSayiJEzS4qqm7-Or0iBPGTEjdmRyx6yNOK4mA/s1024/performance%20at%20art%20gallery.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtvfuCqIBjTNLTVGrjibARASh8nPqPqNLGBNH7GPL0sgJfhlIiiNq-9fysDjaowF37gwlW2K1DVjzvcSib5eQnk3PGTX4ULnSrJj4XiTC8jf3iXDfglBu8wV8erM3NkbCE7j6FuXowiBLWb1OwcSayiJEzS4qqm7-Or0iBPGTEjdmRyx6yNOK4mA/w640-h640/performance%20at%20art%20gallery.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote><p>Given the time of the year I thought this cartoon just might remind you of the days when Halloween wasn't just a holiday by kids <u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">for</u> kids but a time when them inhibitions regarding respect of property and general goody goodiness went flying out the soaped up window. Sheesh, it looks like the axis powers were right after all, at least regarding us kids runnin' <b>WILD</b> at least once a year! Light a cat doo-doo bag on yer teacher's front porch and give Adolf a helping hand...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKa_kLuwCII5Sgl467ei5R8rHoLJLD2fsRBz6h3IqtE8MYSI4pMLK16LjokYdVNuJ64LcZO7LgOPN-roMqxhF0QGDXiWvdGp4-OMGjm035h6tJGoYHNOrxH9oz1ZGLiXDYcIQZzYWZ16gUvgAJFQmbgw0jr9JqrHfeXH5f7S8kPuGv-2gM05I5yw/s653/Halloween.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="653" data-original-width="640" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKa_kLuwCII5Sgl467ei5R8rHoLJLD2fsRBz6h3IqtE8MYSI4pMLK16LjokYdVNuJ64LcZO7LgOPN-roMqxhF0QGDXiWvdGp4-OMGjm035h6tJGoYHNOrxH9oz1ZGLiXDYcIQZzYWZ16gUvgAJFQmbgw0jr9JqrHfeXH5f7S8kPuGv-2gM05I5yw/w628-h640/Halloween.jpg" width="628" /></a></div><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<p>
<b>THINGS LISTENED TO IN THE INTERIM</b> that I'm listing not only to pad
out this post but to look "cool" even though my selections are so obvious
that they really will convince many that I'm just a phonus balonus who's trying too hard flopping about in the process. But really, my only true regret is that I haven't had that much time to connect with my vinyl --- maybe next list:
</p>
<p><b>Elliot Murphy-LOST GENERATION LP (RCA Records)</b></p>
<p><b>Frank Lowe-DOCTOR TOO MUCH CD-r burn (originally on Karma Records)</b></p>
<p><b>Charles Gayle-TIME ZONES CD (Tompkins Square Records)</b></p>
<p><b>CHARLES MINGUS AND FRIENDS IN CONCERT 2-CD set (Columbia Records)</b></p>
<p><b>David Bowie-CHANGES CD (Lobster Records bootleg, Italy)</b></p>
<p>
<b>David Bowie-CLEVELAND MUSIC HALL CD (Gold Standard Records bootleg --- same
tour and set as above and not sounding as hotcha for that matter, but think of all of the Cle underground luminaries in
the audience!)</b>
</p>
<p>
<b>Guru Guru-ESSEN 1970 CD (Garden of Earthly Delights Records, Germany)</b>
</p>
<p>
<b>Anthony Braxton-ALTO SAXOPHONE IMPROVISATIONS 1979 2-LP set (Arista
Records)</b>
</p>
<p>
<b>Zusaan Kali Fasteau-Noah Howard-Bobby Few Trio-EXPATRIATE KIN CD (Creative
Improvised Music Projects Records)</b>
</p>
<p><b>International Harvester-SOV GOTT ROSE-MARIE CD (Silence Records)</b></p>
<p><b>Moebius-Plank-Neumeier-ZERO SET CD (Sky/Gyroscope Records)</b></p>
<p>
<b>Loose Gravel-THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES CD (Bucketfull of Brains Records,
England)</b>
</p>
<p>
<b>David Wertman-KARA SUITE CD-r burn (originally on Mustevic Sound Inc.
Records --- an official reissue should be out by now)</b>
</p>
<p><b>Sonny Boy Williamson-KING BISCUIT TIME CD (Arhoolie Records)</b></p>
<p>
<b>The Revolutionary Ensemble-VIETNAM 1 & 2 CD (ESP Disk/ZYX Music
Records)</b>
</p>
<p><b>MUSIK VON HARMONIA CD (Brain Records, Germany)</b></p>
<p><b>Harmonia-LIVE 1974 CD (Water Records)</b> <br /></p>
<p>
<b>John Cage-SONATAS AND INTERLUDES, SUSAN SERCEK, PIANO (Centaur Records)</b>
</p>
<p><b>Sirone Bang Ensemble-CONFIGURATION CD (Silkheart Records, Sweden)</b></p>
<p><b>Country Joe and the Fish-THE RAG BABY EPs box set (Akarma Records)</b></p><p><b>The Velvet Frogs-tracks off THE STORY OF OAK RECORDS and PSYCHEDELIC SCHMIELS 4 CDs (Wooden Hill Records, England)</b></p><p><b>THE FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF THROBBING GRISTLE CD (Thirsty Ear Records)</b></p><p><b>Various Artists-MESSTHETICS GREATEST HISS (Vol. 1) (Hyped to Death Records)</b></p><p><b>Joseph Jarman/Anthony Braxton-TOGETHER ALONE CD (Delmark Records)</b></p><p><b>Muhal Richard Abrams-LEVELS AND DEGREES OF LIGHT CD (Delmark Records)</b></p><p><b>Cluster-SOWIESOSO CD (Sky Records, Germany)</b></p><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<p>
Here are the sounds that get lined up against the brick wall <i>this</i> week, and as usual thanks be to Bob Forward and Paul McGarry for their contributions to the discord. A nice slab of booty here too if I must say and who knows, some of 'em might actually fit in with the breadth and scope of the blog (and before that the crudzine)!</p>
<p></p>
<p>
<b><br /></b>
</p>
<p><b></b></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHRlxYgru2m6zw9EsAoevq-zpkpRfRcAQhaZdpZbNrzqvlvmHGN59omzNq8qo3mb2SuvH8_xj3uZrh4WgjpcUsdn5o9gjiV7riMxy-dUTcZNeFuy6egO_S7__zVlz0QizPBAR498s0vvAHkXkzWKhr4MzZljLGROPROFqFo7ni8EbX3wpUfInSlw/s600/Final%20Solution%20Fillmore.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="595" data-original-width="600" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHRlxYgru2m6zw9EsAoevq-zpkpRfRcAQhaZdpZbNrzqvlvmHGN59omzNq8qo3mb2SuvH8_xj3uZrh4WgjpcUsdn5o9gjiV7riMxy-dUTcZNeFuy6egO_S7__zVlz0QizPBAR498s0vvAHkXkzWKhr4MzZljLGROPROFqFo7ni8EbX3wpUfInSlw/w200-h198/Final%20Solution%20Fillmore.jpg" width="200" /></a></b>
</div>
<b>The Final Solution-THE FILLMORE WEST July 7, 1966 LP (Take It Acid Is
Records)</b>
<p></p>
<p>
If it weren't for Alec Palao and Jud Cost's essential and much-missed fanzine
<b>CREAM PUFF WAR</b> I doubt I would have ever heard of the Final
Solution, and for that I should be forever grateful to the two. These
guys were part and parcel of the San Francisco scene back when it was still
<u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">PUNK</u><i style="font-weight: bold;"> </i><u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">ROCK</u> (in the
purest sense possible), a scene which even I will admit was something that was
downright awe-inspiring at least until the drugs and pretension set in. The
Final Solution's raga-folk sounds, along with such luminaries as the
Great Society and some ne'er do wells calling themselves the Warlocks, were definitely the highlight of a long strange trip that sure
went off on a wilder tangent than I'm sure many people even
<u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">in</u> San Francisco
coulda conjured up in their then comparatively-unaddled minds.
</p>
<p>
Great sound, lousy audience (well, all three seemed appreciative!). Musically
the Solution were a cross between the Society and Beau Brummels with some
Vejtables/Mojo Men influx still sounding as <b>NUGGETS</b> as we'd hope
any group outta 1966 woulda. Long Indian-influenced tracks and a Pigpen-ish "Turn On Your
Lovelight" romp unveil before your
very ears, and just wait until you hear the strange "America the
Beautiful" and "2120 South Michigan Avenue" mishmosh that closes out the entire
shebang!
</p><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote><p>
</p>
<p>
<b></b>
</p>
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<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifKzk-uEfk6o7q7sSqtlqSVz5J2tqCcFn2gwZzRMYOqg4hPIGUk5C_ao1Bm59BMVfLQ5f9PbC8K8Vai2kLUgbRUfoB3t_gUG_I1qDF3ZRLYRetXn27QxkcM9IwQ7gzRmfmHjVnJ1OhsEYfaz95AvqkSOCj0zxZ-99_UqCLfwhttBDu6DfmR4dp0A/s1200/Only%20Darkness%20Now.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1194" data-original-width="1200" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifKzk-uEfk6o7q7sSqtlqSVz5J2tqCcFn2gwZzRMYOqg4hPIGUk5C_ao1Bm59BMVfLQ5f9PbC8K8Vai2kLUgbRUfoB3t_gUG_I1qDF3ZRLYRetXn27QxkcM9IwQ7gzRmfmHjVnJ1OhsEYfaz95AvqkSOCj0zxZ-99_UqCLfwhttBDu6DfmR4dp0A/w200-h199/Only%20Darkness%20Now.jpg" width="200" /></a></b>
</div>
<b>Alison Cotton-ONLY DARKNESS NOW CD-r burn (</b><b><a href="https://bloxhamtapes.bandcamp.com/album/only-darkness-now">Bloxham Tapes, England</a>)</b>
<p></p>
<p>
First utterance had me thinking <b>MARBLE INDEX </b>what with the presence of
Cotton's harmonium and viola, and then the shifting drones conjured LaMonte
Young. Only this is dolorous and reminds me of what some very early tones of
pagan praise might have sounded like. Actually if you combine all three this
makes pretty darn sense. Femme oohs mate with that heavenly blare that makes
me think that maybe these
<b><u style="font-style: italic;">are</u> MARBLE INDEX </b>outtakes ('r
at least backing tracks) after all!
</p><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote><p>
</p>
<p><b></b></p>
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</div>
<b>PROBLEM - HATE/GREY CD (Easy Listening Records)</b>
<p></p>
<p>
I approach every eighties (and beyond) vintage experimental rock effort done
by art majors who can't find jobs with more than just a small spec of
suspicion. You would too given some of the musical atrocities of the past few decades. And
frankly I did the same with these guys (and gal) who were doing the ol' art project thing in the culturally pumping city of Port Huron Michigan.
Gawrsh how I thought this bunch (pretty much same group under different
monikers) was gonna scrape the bottom gobbling up alla the worst aspects of
art wave cheap electronics/drum machine dorm room precociousness but guess
what? They pull it off just as snatly as the same bands who were doing the
same things in larger cities and maybe gettring away with it as well!
</p>
<p>
If you have an imagination, try conjuring up a somewhat halfway there cross
between Tuxedomoon, Sick Dick and the Volkswagens and Throbbing Gristle. Now imagine someing just a tad angrier'n a good hunk of the aural school glue that many a
precocious petunia type was conjuring up out there in the middle hunk of the
United State during the dankness of the eighties. 'n fact this is rather hard and intense with growling vocals mixed
with cyborg electronic grave new world visions that I kinda get the impression
coulda only been created by drug-hardened coasters who lived and died by their
wits and they probably didn't smell too good either. A surprise outta that oft-visited place called nowhere. </p><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote><p>
</p>
<p><b></b></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga0V5BfqrfcSDsg4pbzuVzQJlyoKZyvAKm1Km1PatlzFyrsOS4maMYHlGXLeFPqN9hpBh8jLSbVK2774tLA_lp3EGRhGVkaGDsZDqWN38xdMRTb7jiqSJCx9Wn_yYfVC4uM18yAL9WWMWNguLY6lR0AWyPaXvfVj173UqbItluDCoBn9BGrm2RRQ/s959/Pink%20Album.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="959" data-original-width="957" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga0V5BfqrfcSDsg4pbzuVzQJlyoKZyvAKm1Km1PatlzFyrsOS4maMYHlGXLeFPqN9hpBh8jLSbVK2774tLA_lp3EGRhGVkaGDsZDqWN38xdMRTb7jiqSJCx9Wn_yYfVC4uM18yAL9WWMWNguLY6lR0AWyPaXvfVj173UqbItluDCoBn9BGrm2RRQ/w199-h200/Pink%20Album.png" width="199" /></a></b>
</div>
<b>The Pagans-THE PINK ALBUM --- PLUS! CD-r burn (originally on Crypt
Records)</b>
<p></p>
<p>
Dunno if McGarry sent this to me so's I can eke a review outta it or just to
bug me for skipping this 'un over as well as their debut 45 "Six and Change"
when I had ample opportunity to buy both. Whatever the reason here's a burn
which re-introduces me as to just why these Cleveland rock 'n rollers seemed
like the only hope for some high energy jamz even if they were stuck smak dab
in the center of Pantsiosville.
</p>
<p>
Being the doofus I am and shall remain, I kinda forgotten just how much of a
rich rock history this group had. They weren't just a buncha fanablas who read
about punk rock and decided to do some bandwagon jumping on, and lotsa past
rock 'n roll highlights can be discerned from lo fi rockabilly to
early-sixties teen combo crankout to mid-sixties punk rock (t'was fitting that
Crypt Records handled this reish!), all done in that total p-rock abandon that
separated the Pagans and their likes from a whole slew of hippies in disguise
who were creeping in on the real deal. Y'know, the ones who were turning the
entire mulch of "punk" into a touchy-feely movement that was so
socio-politically stilted it made the early-seventies
<b>BLESS THE BEASTS AND CHILDREN/BILLY JACK </b>crowd look stoic in
comparison!
</p>
<p>
Additional tracks help out from the <b>CLEVELAND CONFIDENTIAL</b> EP take
on the tune of the same name (aka "Real World") to live versions of the Drome
tracks that sure make me wish that label woulda put out them Bernie and the
Invisibles and Harlan and the Whips recs that were slated for release before
the entire shebang capsized. Yeah, this style of rock 'n roll sure woulda
seemed outta place given how that decade (and beyond) was devoted to glitz
over energy, but for true blues like ourselves it sure came off even fresher
than that hackneyed "breath of fresh air" everybody seems to be talking about.
</p>
<p>
Closing the sesh's two perhaps not-so-surprising choices of covers, the first one being a decent enough
take on Alice's "Eighteen" and the other a twisto changeo version of "Final
Solution" that I don't think will upset fans of the original although I might be wrong.
</p>
<p>
For an old turd like myself it sure hurts in the ol' compost heap I call a
memory that this music is, for all intent purposes,
<i>ancient.</i> Still, its fresher'n even the freshest tampon the likes
of any of 'em devil worshipping pop stars who are up and about these days
would dare shove into their over-traveled holes, and at this moment in time
all I gotta say is that's all that matters, and
<b><i>NOTHIN' MORE!!!!!</i></b>
</p><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<p><b></b></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghjYRkprxBuajzQgHqM47hFtA3rU9Y7qPESsYZZkiQCNR5Ht-mRS2rby_7JcebhT4WWCSq9i9cj92pOEPR9lYitasuictbO1-YRpeVtntB-s0Io2L_Hbt7vCVee5OY71oy86GiLuGDiksTG8U5YfllKGU0NA6rDR1Wy0FkW3yXIDX5UNtB51LAjw/s1000/Revelations.webp" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghjYRkprxBuajzQgHqM47hFtA3rU9Y7qPESsYZZkiQCNR5Ht-mRS2rby_7JcebhT4WWCSq9i9cj92pOEPR9lYitasuictbO1-YRpeVtntB-s0Io2L_Hbt7vCVee5OY71oy86GiLuGDiksTG8U5YfllKGU0NA6rDR1Wy0FkW3yXIDX5UNtB51LAjw/w200-h200/Revelations.webp" width="200" /></a></b>
</div>
<b>Albert Ayler-REVELATIONS (THE COMPLETE ORTF 1970 FONDATIONS MAEGHT
RECORDINGS) 4-CD-r set (originally on Elemental Records)</b>
<p></p>
<p>
If you weren't bright enough to buy these back when they were packaged in
awful generic sleeves and goin' for budget prices, here's a chance to redeem
yourself even if it might cost you an arm and some other appendage you might
wanna keep. Believe it or not but these are the complete Ayler Foundation gigs
in one package, and if I had the real deal 'stead of a burn I'd gander that
there would also be a booklet with rare pics and all sorta reminiscences
t'boot!
</p>
<p>
What else could be said to add to everything anyone has
<u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">ALREADY</u> said 'bout
these shows which were Ayler's last stand a few months before his plop into
the East River. As far as being a swansong it's great to know that Ayler went
out on such a keen note --- contrary to the Wikipedia entry his group was just
as copasetic with his entire being as any of those earlier classic lineups
(I'd say markedly better than the early Swedish efforts), and although you
might disagree I gotta say that Mary Maria wasn't the inhibitor that many
armchair snoots out there tended to make her out to be. In fact I'd say she fits in quite swell with her passionate voice which complements Ayler's soul scrape! The unrehearsed
nature of these shows make this all the more fresh and spontaneous and far
from the splatterfest that I get the impression some people assume this effort
to be. Well, whaddaya want, to see 'em playing from scores like my cyster
assumed these improvisors did?????
</p>
<p>
You might think you already have too many Ayler spinners in your abode, but in
reality is there anything wrong with having as many of his efforts as you can in your already overstuffed collections? That's like saying you were gonna get
someone a book for his birthday but he already has one. Purely illogical.
</p><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<p><b></b></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg89koFtSJBxzrffgMCpAk2pCnj0HS03SPaCMEgKWudY5p_PR-Iovkr7YlLFzOF6oYBrzvK-6k9svzzZZeyH1PnTzjJNsUJ-z_gaUSXQyVoSjDB54OoUo7FRIhs5sM4f0zJ21tzyJ1csdGFv9ZizmasEYhAkReP4KDO8lr3O6mx9Bwz-uviX6O_XQ/s821/AEC%20Live%20Chicago.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="821" data-original-width="819" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg89koFtSJBxzrffgMCpAk2pCnj0HS03SPaCMEgKWudY5p_PR-Iovkr7YlLFzOF6oYBrzvK-6k9svzzZZeyH1PnTzjJNsUJ-z_gaUSXQyVoSjDB54OoUo7FRIhs5sM4f0zJ21tzyJ1csdGFv9ZizmasEYhAkReP4KDO8lr3O6mx9Bwz-uviX6O_XQ/w199-h200/AEC%20Live%20Chicago.jpg" width="199" /></a></b>
</div>
<b>The Art Ensemble of Chicago-CHICAGO JAZZ FESTIVAL 8/31/80 CD-r burn (download
it </b><b><a href="https://archive.org/details/art-ensemble-of-chicago-1980-chicago-jazz-fest">here</a>)</b>
<p></p>
<p>
Eh, by this time they lost a lotta that spark 'n move that defined their early
days, but some AEC is better'n
<u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">NO</u> AEC 'n I'll take
this over just about all of the other acts that popped up at this fest. The
NPR patter is somewhat interesting even if you get the impression that Billy
Taylor coulda cared less about 'em. If you (like Brad Kohler) were the type of
guy who snatched up their ECM albums at cutout prices you might just go for
this one bigtime!
</p><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<p><b></b></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeZPSHqhO3TBOFYGEankF1brL2cIe8c4Hf816pa7W_SzkxJ7JsK-vdALf0-Tp0iAfDTMbhkSNHBJjPuykBur5_RnedIPM7Gp330dx861fQNdzW5IJXuN7o_i0YCfFE_RIs6cYTD5-CcdUaHdIQvl_ULfmAPAFrpNcFD9I3F48PLuMi1Fb2ZCh9xw/s1199/Matchez.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1199" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeZPSHqhO3TBOFYGEankF1brL2cIe8c4Hf816pa7W_SzkxJ7JsK-vdALf0-Tp0iAfDTMbhkSNHBJjPuykBur5_RnedIPM7Gp330dx861fQNdzW5IJXuN7o_i0YCfFE_RIs6cYTD5-CcdUaHdIQvl_ULfmAPAFrpNcFD9I3F48PLuMi1Fb2ZCh9xw/w200-h180/Matchez.jpg" width="200" /></a></b>
</div>
<b>Matchez-MACHINES CD-r burn (originally on Matchez Records)</b>
<p></p>
<p>
The electronic splurt had me thinkin' those obscuros that popped up on the R. Meltzer radio show while the twenty-three-minute "Daylight Fades to Darkness"
reminded me of something that woulda fit in snugly on any one of those Mother
Mallard albums I reviewed a few months back. It's nothing "new" mind ya, but
it still has a rather decent approach and feel to it that sure stirs up the
stirrups in a fashion that's way more appealing that a whole load of the
electronic mulch I've heard as of late. Might be worth your while if you were
the kinda kid who did a term paper on electronic music when you were a
sophomore in high stool and your sister mis-typed "Sun Ra" as "S<i>ie</i>n Ra"
'n I'll
<u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">NEVER</u> forgive her
for that!
</p><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<p>
Yeah, even an egotist such as I has gotta admit that <a href="https://black2com.blogspot.com/2023/02/what-do-all-these-creatures-have-in.html">they</a> are quite shallow. Not only in writing skills but in overall content,
with articles and reviews that blither on about very little that would
interest anybody anywhere and at any time in recorded history. A few of the "facts" that are spewed within these pages are far from the honest truth (which really wasn't my fault given the fuzzy memory information sources I hadda rely on) and most if not all come with a horrid layout
and (at times) print job for your eyes (or self-respect) to suffer through. But then again they're
<u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">MINE</u>, and like a good
bowel movement I was somewhat satisfied with it all after the "digestion" of putting out
such an ordeal was over and done with. Won't you join in the resultant plop?
</p>
Christopher Stiglianohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17107248034597839482noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6910067.post-87822422741735416262023-10-14T07:25:00.006-04:002023-10-25T08:23:16.254-04:00<div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>MORE REVIEWS OF SINGLES THAT HAVE BEEN WALLOWING IN MY COLLECTION FOR
YEARS!</b></span></div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>
Well, a couple of these are recent acquisitions but still, a hefty portion of these random plucks have been hanging around here quite a long while and like, maybe they oughta get their due
respect now before nobody on this planet of ours is gonna give a durn!
</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>
<br /><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRMyjXeUXLg41MDHrCPFN3SMG2Cl8OFho5kFTQhHyI3ZLQiVf_9DcoDI2BYcSr72KSnNAOq15e_s9OLta4zDMAG0u9FfCi-V8xNnvvCnId0ZTNFLqcNsPsdjl1xieBrB4ZOyy4x9TQGwofYiGzJQXH8fthQ9T4CzF9vFMofnyTs5lbWqFj_Hg/s1080/crying.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1079" data-original-width="1080" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRMyjXeUXLg41MDHrCPFN3SMG2Cl8OFho5kFTQhHyI3ZLQiVf_9DcoDI2BYcSr72KSnNAOq15e_s9OLta4zDMAG0u9FfCi-V8xNnvvCnId0ZTNFLqcNsPsdjl1xieBrB4ZOyy4x9TQGwofYiGzJQXH8fthQ9T4CzF9vFMofnyTs5lbWqFj_Hg/w200-h200/crying.jpg" width="200" /></a>
</div>
Roy Orbison-"Crying"/"Candy Man" (Monument Records)</b>
<div>
<b><br /></b>
</div>
<div>
This big 'un (once referred to as a "rock bolero" ---- and you thought I was bad!) isn't offensive to my musical make up one iota, but frankly I'd rather be spinning Von Lmo if I had the time. I actually prefer
the flip with a more rollicking country feel that perks me up like a good
Charlie Rich song but hey, much better hearing "Crying" on the car radio
than "Spinning Wheel" played to the point of insanity.<blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote><div>
</div>
<div>
<b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioVQLonxMDDVhzUBeEDSW-w-S_to-LjWinCwo9-J4MIjYNrPzZYi7bNa81YDvXW2tv2AYmAtaAMw63lf2TCKk9IA_XfnlSAAFe_NoDuyAnkxtLseRHeXg43twGFZt3wJcsi0t-5-yjjMec78GihJqda3aqUgIZnnQRK_g2Pfm2amCjteq4Oy8/s1083/untamed%20youth%20californiua.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1083" data-original-width="1080" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioVQLonxMDDVhzUBeEDSW-w-S_to-LjWinCwo9-J4MIjYNrPzZYi7bNa81YDvXW2tv2AYmAtaAMw63lf2TCKk9IA_XfnlSAAFe_NoDuyAnkxtLseRHeXg43twGFZt3wJcsi0t-5-yjjMec78GihJqda3aqUgIZnnQRK_g2Pfm2amCjteq4Oy8/w199-h200/untamed%20youth%20californiua.jpg" width="199" /></a>
</div>
The Untamed Youth-"California Street"/"Jennie Lee" (Norton Records)</b>
</div>
<div>
<b><br /></b>
</div>
<div>
I saw these guys put on a totally whacked out and over the top running
across the other side screaming all the way show long ago, and thankfully
their records (like this particular item) have the same blurt of energy
within the grooves as they do when experienced in person. These tracks are
about as authentic to the ideal of early rock 'n roll as this blog is to the
spirit of the Golden Age of Rock Fandom, and although I was a tad
disappointed that the flipster was not the Jan and Arnie song well, there
are a whole lot more things to be disappointed about in life so why get
worked up over it?
</div><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote><div>
<p><b></b></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWfMiMMxp2jAHCa1jj6UeKkxmxvDlERznRBeXLPfDdhIQ8Pjkeu9J7gw2DBzU-99Muegpu4oHtpeI8V4z6nVKFzRiMKZ8u8Zr1Mir6BaJDd9Q-aothsEsI3nAOMEIMF6MT6wpwac92FrulDobieW1tMSiS-c6NMsj4MS2WIKCs95swSublAkk/s1080/Gregory's%20Funhouse.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1042" data-original-width="1080" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWfMiMMxp2jAHCa1jj6UeKkxmxvDlERznRBeXLPfDdhIQ8Pjkeu9J7gw2DBzU-99Muegpu4oHtpeI8V4z6nVKFzRiMKZ8u8Zr1Mir6BaJDd9Q-aothsEsI3nAOMEIMF6MT6wpwac92FrulDobieW1tMSiS-c6NMsj4MS2WIKCs95swSublAkk/w200-h193/Gregory's%20Funhouse.jpg" width="200" /></a></b>
</div>
<b>Funhouse-"All Is All"/"Let's Go!" (Kuba Enterprises)</b>
<p></p>
<p>
Here's a platter outta nowhere that features ex-Kongress/Von Lmo bass
guitarist Kip Kuba and perhaps even Lou Rone, also of Kongress/Von Lmo
fame (see <a href="https://black2com.blogspot.com/2023/02/what-do-all-these-creatures-have-in.html"><b>BLACK TO COMM</b> #25</a>). Dunno for sure if Lou is on here (judging from the label Kuba obviously is) because some of
the members listed in the credits seem to be using aliases, but it sure
sounds like him so I would ponder so! Still wish he was around so I could
ask him personally...
</p>
<p>
Even a good thirty seconds into this 'un you can tell that Funhouse were a
pretty straightforward hard rock group, one that happened to be bubbling
about way way
<b><i><u>WAY</u> </i></b>under the New York scene in the late-eighties which is why you've never
read any hotcha info on 'em in the fanzines of the day. This Crash Landing
'88 single proves just how brass knuckles the group were when it came to
hard rock in an age when the term most certainly became an
oxymoron...surprisingly potent heavy duty sound (heavy metal utilizing the seventies use of that term as an <b><i><u>adjective</u></i></b>) which satisfies and perhaps meant even
<i style="font-weight: bold;">MORE</i> especially in an age when hair
groups and watered down glitz ruled the day. This single roars on like those bands
that ended up on the <b>BONEHEAD CRUNCHERS</b> series which is
especially cool given how this was recorded a good fifteen or so years
after the heyday of local (good) hard rock singles! And with alla that MTV
jive that was ruining rock 'n roll seemingly for good back in those horrid
times it just reverberates in my soul all the more.
</p>
<p>I wish I knew about this 'un when it first came out a good
thirty-plus years back! Well, I woulda loved snatching this one up
promowise 'stead of the reams of horrid aural Glade Air Freshener
amerindie drivel that dolts who thought that <a href="https://black2com.blogspot.com/2023/02/what-do-all-these-creatures-have-in.html" style="font-weight: bold;">BLACK TO COMM</a> was a carbon-copy college music journal were wont to send my way.
</p><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<p><b></b></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div>
<b>Shackle-"Mr. Tripper"/"Mr. Lover" (Hybrid Records)</b>
<p></p>
<p>
I searched for this one after reading Eddie Flowers' reminiscence
re. some "weird Meltzer-influenced rock writer from Chicago" that went by
the moniker of Graham Carlton who once picked up a hitchhiking Flowers
back '74 way. Funny, but I can't find any examples of Mr. Carlton's
scribing anywhere on the web which is a shame since he sounds as if he
coulda been a real <i>contender</i> if only because he was "weird"
and a "Meltzer-influenced rock writer from Chicago" which sure does sound
quite appealing<i>. </i>Well, it sure comes off a whole lot better'n being a "normal" and "Christgau-influenced rock writer from Chicago" <i>ifyaknowaddamean...</i></p>
<p>
Carlton's group Shackle, at least judging by this single that escaped
sometime in the mid-seventies, may not be Vom but they're still a good
enough listen-to for fans of the seventies self-produced single sweepstakes. Playing acoustic garage-y tunes with a sound that hints
at things to come, Shackle do a drug song on the a-side --- I dunno if it
is pro or con but at this point I'd say the former given how chemical
brain stimulation seems to have been the rule of the day. The flip's a little
sweeter in tone but is still a good enough bet for some mid-seventies
post-psychedelic era sampler of the future. Of course it all makes me
wanna know more about the man behind it and his writings, so if anyone out
there has any personal recollections regarding either of 'em well, keep
'em secret like you've always done!
</p><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<p><b></b></p>
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</div>
<b>Jan and Dean-"Popsicle"/"Norwegian Wood" (Liberty Records)</b>
<p></p>
<p>
This late '66 release was one of many attempts to salvage the Jan and Dean
team after Jan's fateful drive to (or at least near) Dead Man's Curve. I'm
glad it did fairly well considering the a-side was originally issued a
good three or so years earlier and I'm sure Jan needed all the help with
the bills that were comin' his way. The Beatles cover sadly does hint at
the downslide that acts like Jan and Dean were experiencing at
the hands of the mop top brigade to the point where they hadda jump onna
bandwagon to remain up to date, but danged if I don't find this
arrangement way better'n the original. You might think so too but you're
all just too "sophisticated" to agree, hippydippys you are and shall
remain.</p>
<p>
Oh, and if Miss Roseann Zimmerman of 6 Brian Road Wapping Connecticut
wants her old record back well...tough turds you gave it up!
</p><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<p><b></b></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJjFqIkbr09caNL-5NS5mkC5Lk8B5MjnMo_Rdt9FkV8HZOupXQw-vKGhCLZAsy8m5LljZQcndEGOkfPY4oTmM4jgFHcHvBYdCR0svcmACAQb58J-Pu7vBDw7cFTLdOtUp-ncxtqdUr2dp-L1sr6JYg6O6SrMZUJZVw9Vi80hGUzpAAaCmZWtY/s1090/witch%20hunt.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1090" data-original-width="1080" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJjFqIkbr09caNL-5NS5mkC5Lk8B5MjnMo_Rdt9FkV8HZOupXQw-vKGhCLZAsy8m5LljZQcndEGOkfPY4oTmM4jgFHcHvBYdCR0svcmACAQb58J-Pu7vBDw7cFTLdOtUp-ncxtqdUr2dp-L1sr6JYg6O6SrMZUJZVw9Vi80hGUzpAAaCmZWtY/w198-h200/witch%20hunt.jpg" width="198" /></a></b>
</div>
<b>The Mob-"Witch Hunt"/"Shuffling Souls" (All The Madman Records,
England)</b>
<p></p>
<p>
The Mob were <i>thee</i> early '80s anarcho-punk band with the most
classiness to 'em, even more than the Cravats or Astronauts who were rather classy compared to the smellier acts roaming 'round. They played a
straightforward and surprisingly melodic rock 'n roll that owed a whole
lot to the English blare that was sellin' like hotcakes a good five years
earlier and besides, they didn't come off like a buncha screaming
menopausal women all upset because they couldn't write their names in the
snow.
</p>
<p>
This is but one of a handful of singles (not forgetting their album) and
perhaps the best, with a '77 approach that most likely is due to the
influence of this one group whose name I just hate to bring up. You know,
that band whose mere mention evokes years of the might of the music they
played being co-opted and downright ruined by the recent upcropping of
young gifted and snoozeroo types who churn out chords learned off internet
sites and do it all in an annoying plastic jewelry and dyed blue hair
sorta way. And as for the <i>women...</i>
</p><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote><p>
</p>
<p><b></b></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwtR9QUAbQlqbTJIy4nN5WehlOj8r7SaC5geysx1RNLOCHqem2vPeQTJVV4lRut9T-yFHMtVAyQBbsNE7fss0ijQfeEr-eVAyUF4yENTwvCvE5f8X5OZDOrqljiQGrIRvSvhGTHK8qJSK24k09y2pewPjBuK-7yYJThI4v3n2gvAVCYq5h9DQ/s1099/zantees.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1099" data-original-width="1080" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwtR9QUAbQlqbTJIy4nN5WehlOj8r7SaC5geysx1RNLOCHqem2vPeQTJVV4lRut9T-yFHMtVAyQBbsNE7fss0ijQfeEr-eVAyUF4yENTwvCvE5f8X5OZDOrqljiQGrIRvSvhGTHK8qJSK24k09y2pewPjBuK-7yYJThI4v3n2gvAVCYq5h9DQ/w196-h200/zantees.jpg" width="196" /></a></b>
</div>
<b>The Zantees-"Rockin' In The House"/"Mornin' Light" (Little Ricky
Records)</b>
<p></p>
<p>
These Zantees just <i>barely</i> predated the big rockabilly upheaval of
1981, but for some strange reason they never did get the kinda notoriety
the likes of Phantom, Rocker and Slick did. I guess they just didn't have
the same kind of publicity machine rollin' behind 'em (or heapin' bags of
cocaine to use for promotional purposes) but wha' th'
<i>hey?????</i>
</p>
<p>
This debut sure 'nuff was a rather convincing cause for the Zantees being higher up on the
rockabilly totem pole than they unfortunately are. Straightforward yet not
cloying and pandering to the giddier gnu 'billy fans, nor are they "down
pat" with their approach like too many of these revivalists were. The
so-so sound quality only helps me believe even more that this is the real
deal homage to a music (what'm I sayin' --- <i style="font-weight: bold;">A WAY OF LIFE!</i>) long gone but certainly not forgotten, 'least by the kinda folk who lived through the fifties and sixties enjoying it without feeling guilty like alla them hippies did.
</p>
<p>
Certainly not the kinda music that a buncha cling ons woulda whipped up
after hearing "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" thinkin' they could
do better by using more mascara. Will be seeking out the Bomp! album for a
re-assess one of these eons.
</p><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<p><b></b></p>
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<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJao8ESaRT6TqNxi6QlprLComtNoJIT0iQsGSnDhahvMHetkmwffvFVvnKHCMcbnWqSadhPyLMKDhRtZfNTOB7Yx5n2vyHtzGDS_D1eIHaxdYk_15Pdp8BnyBDptYS7sc8Wa5oVWp3hzOwdvT_fwJDrJTar-PoANz2rN2ouKEQefw8bQYBAcE/s1084/You're%20Gonna%20Miss%20Me.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1084" data-original-width="1080" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJao8ESaRT6TqNxi6QlprLComtNoJIT0iQsGSnDhahvMHetkmwffvFVvnKHCMcbnWqSadhPyLMKDhRtZfNTOB7Yx5n2vyHtzGDS_D1eIHaxdYk_15Pdp8BnyBDptYS7sc8Wa5oVWp3hzOwdvT_fwJDrJTar-PoANz2rN2ouKEQefw8bQYBAcE/w199-h200/You're%20Gonna%20Miss%20Me.jpg" width="199" /></a></b>
</div>
<b>The Spades-"You're Gonna Miss Me"/"We Sell Soul" (Zero Records seventies reissue)</b>
<p></p>
<p>
Pre-Elevators Roky taking it into territory that was even more primitive
than a good portion of those other home made singles of the sixties we all
know and love. The "Emil Schwartze" version of "Miss Me" cranks with a
basement rock passion that I gotta admit makes the better known hit sound
slightly staid, while the early version of "Don't Fall Down" has that
repeato-riff lurch that recalls that one group mentioned in the Mob
writeup whose mere name I want to refrain from using because of reasons I
don't wanna repeat for that sake of not boring you all to bits --- you can
read all about it above. As expected the low-fi
quality adds the overall intensity of it all.
</p><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<p><b></b></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikaqCv1EicDaKsgFkephxj-zzawXu4sA2rAa3bD-rjzYcfPI9_x0m78zGdsdG1QgTUVrdYtuBnMWTAro-AZHy_RT5uJ180vv8RejhHkQOOimBezqubr3Rz_r2IcfrYT1p9XfoeFzYFVdOtLTDraJD-uqnjF4vkh-j0e0xk6-TNUgrRx25q8zA/s1080/Detectives.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1063" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikaqCv1EicDaKsgFkephxj-zzawXu4sA2rAa3bD-rjzYcfPI9_x0m78zGdsdG1QgTUVrdYtuBnMWTAro-AZHy_RT5uJ180vv8RejhHkQOOimBezqubr3Rz_r2IcfrYT1p9XfoeFzYFVdOtLTDraJD-uqnjF4vkh-j0e0xk6-TNUgrRx25q8zA/w197-h200/Detectives.jpg" width="197" /></a></b>
</div>
<b>Elvis Costello-"Watching the Detectives"/"Blame it on Cain"; "Mystery
Dance" EP (Stiff Records, Belgium [the yellow vinyl ones you usedta see
all over the place!])</b>
<p></p>
<p>
I'm sure you don't remember, but Costello really was at the top of his
form during them early days when people thought alla that punk rock stuff of
his was so offensive! Well at least he was at the top until he left the
underground credo of Stiff and Radar records and became what some people
would call a big time "new Dylan" 'r something like that. Phony reggae on
the a-side ain't as derivative as some might think while the live flip's
still got that booma-la-fa that kinda dissipated when Costello landed on
F-Beat. 's hard to believe in this day and age, but people like Costello
and his pal Nick Lowe were pointing music in a whole better direction away
from the usual AM offal and FM phony stoner mentalities that seemed to be
such a rage during the worst moments of them already worst days. As if any
of that mattered now that it's
<i style="font-weight: bold;">ALL </i> over, done 'n stick a
fork in it.
</p><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<p><b></b></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>
<b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisZ4S9PjyZtWii2-4A_riy_XBduBIpnE8ueyapYnA_DhQKvQz3Dn6E124u1uCclONgpqM48zdvixkFfiiFdHwbOktTePeKHgGZhJT7J50_li27lmaKkDcNkAGX5wrzGJFJidtb30h2hK8OGuuE6cqHwLJvynHHO8hTbqEGUcw_8xh2AHmNqJvXNw/s1082/birdhouse.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1082" data-original-width="1080" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisZ4S9PjyZtWii2-4A_riy_XBduBIpnE8ueyapYnA_DhQKvQz3Dn6E124u1uCclONgpqM48zdvixkFfiiFdHwbOktTePeKHgGZhJT7J50_li27lmaKkDcNkAGX5wrzGJFJidtb30h2hK8OGuuE6cqHwLJvynHHO8hTbqEGUcw_8xh2AHmNqJvXNw/w199-h200/birdhouse.jpg" width="199" /></a>
</div>
The Birdhouse-"My Birdman"/"Don't Wanna Shake" (Powerhouse Records,
England)</b>
</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>
Hitting the underground rock scene smack dab at the beginning of the Big
Detroit Rock Revival of the mid-eighties, the Birdhouse weren't Australian
but they sure had the same sense of all-out high energy madness as the best
practitioners of Michigan homage --- <b>ROCKET FROM THE TOMBS</b>,
<b>RADIO BIRDMAN</b>, <b>THE PINK FAIRIES</b>, <b>UMELA HMOTA 3</b>,<b> THE FUN THINGS</b> and about a hundred other groups whose monikers I'll remember about
ten years after this review is posted. </div><div><br /></div><div>Off key vocals might make some of you
purists wish for the return of The Masked Ginny Lynne, but they fit in swell
with the straight ahead guitar rock cacophony that the Birds thrust forth.
Not only that but these guys (and one gal) get pretty rambunctious when it
comes to keeping the spirit of rock 'n roll going in the face of all that
eighties gloss we all hadda suffer through. One of the highlights of the
<b>real</b> underground revival of the day, and anyone who's read
the eleventh issue of my <a href="https://black2com.blogspot.com/2023/02/what-do-all-these-creatures-have-in.html">crudzine</a> should already know that by now.<blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUvqiusTg0XX-urlf6SLB9VcldJ1r1zdsE5zmNIALhMgn5mUR3HLCXenZoz_WDVI-kXcn_KG7mKVDD4K1U3A4xIl4xyFP3z4ZFF4TnJSZ_0h3bFze3ybBVpIv0WWY3e2GQPv0_Af6--heNJcNW-fqZhohseWTxiy2lp1sprTvk4WvUW1DNacLKhQ/s1080/Pylon.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1080" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUvqiusTg0XX-urlf6SLB9VcldJ1r1zdsE5zmNIALhMgn5mUR3HLCXenZoz_WDVI-kXcn_KG7mKVDD4K1U3A4xIl4xyFP3z4ZFF4TnJSZ_0h3bFze3ybBVpIv0WWY3e2GQPv0_Af6--heNJcNW-fqZhohseWTxiy2lp1sprTvk4WvUW1DNacLKhQ/w200-h185/Pylon.jpg" width="200" /></a></b>
</div>
<b>Pylon-"Cool"/"Dub" (Caution Records)</b>
<p></p>
<p>
For being from Athens Georgia, and for being there during the
early-eighties days of new unto
<u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">gnu</u> wave,
<u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">AND</u> for being
there during a time when musical acts from that locale and era were being
incessantly hyped in the pages of various publications we thought shoulda
known better --- well, it <b><i>is</i></b> halfway there. Pylon played a
good enough (I guess) post-something rock complete with a lead singer who
reminds me somewhat of Lydia Lunch with a backing band that was about as
angular as many of those English groups of the day. If you miss the mail
order mania you had way back when if only because there weren't any local
record shops selling these things and you had no other choice but to save
your pennies and choose your purchases wisely well, this 'un'll bring back
really fond memories of how just one little record like this could
brighten not only your whole day but a good portion of the week as well.
</p><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<p><b></b></p>
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<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2aIYqcu_As1SES6zk1AyV3GP3xuxitSyEF9hgFaJx2yUnWbgi22JhEo12kFDRi7TOqW7-nDH5tsrCecEP2Y_fEoNApfsjFXd9WWi_GQvQbKzBhuZ569SELcnb_YEGRV8UxhlWfegshGaSV46tIVjLizUjYWkNtRBBe3H4fd4HklcGt_nglg85BQ/s1080/Girl%20Trouble.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1078" data-original-width="1080" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2aIYqcu_As1SES6zk1AyV3GP3xuxitSyEF9hgFaJx2yUnWbgi22JhEo12kFDRi7TOqW7-nDH5tsrCecEP2Y_fEoNApfsjFXd9WWi_GQvQbKzBhuZ569SELcnb_YEGRV8UxhlWfegshGaSV46tIVjLizUjYWkNtRBBe3H4fd4HklcGt_nglg85BQ/w200-h199/Girl%20Trouble.jpg" width="200" /></a></b>
</div>
<b>Girl Trouble-"Tarantula"/"Old Time Religion" (K Records)</b>
<p></p>
<p>
For the life of me I can't remember even
<i style="font-weight: bold;">possessing</i> this single let alone
having heard it before, but since a whole lotta trauma's gone down since
them days no wonder my memory's as clogged up as a peanut butter lover's
toilet. </p><p>To be totally upfront tippy top honest about it, I really do feel
like such a doofus knowing that this platter has been moiling away in my
collection for decades awlready because it's such a good 'un that I coulda
been enjoying all these years! Girl Trouble take the better moments of the
Cramps and various other retro-creep types and crushes 'em all together to
come up with a wild rock 'n roll sound that doesn't come off all
posed and coy like a lotta these acts can get. Pretty straight ahead in
approach and outcome to the point where I think it coulda even put a smile
on the faces of some of those strict and stodgy early rock fans who
loathed anything that popped up after 1959. </p><p>And I was briefly under the impression that "K"
Records and Calvin Johnson were as bad as a few of those amerindie snobs sure
led us to believe! Feh!!!
</p><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<p><b></b></p>
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<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2znIDL1ANlG5_9Ws_8R6-jrhQ5a3yFKOWLpPd0jUmZcifqWkcQtFUNgzpBM6_KK2AWjX_XQxweGz32bS98a4ez3wBnwaT190kMfRPlAPUCK1j54LVpMhqgDK3SJINQ1ckTv8tYZXOWJJIKuGwlEr53PIEdgpOtiNB5XWL1RR8qB3vJ_jpB3b2Lg/s1080/Vibracathedral.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1046" data-original-width="1080" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2znIDL1ANlG5_9Ws_8R6-jrhQ5a3yFKOWLpPd0jUmZcifqWkcQtFUNgzpBM6_KK2AWjX_XQxweGz32bS98a4ez3wBnwaT190kMfRPlAPUCK1j54LVpMhqgDK3SJINQ1ckTv8tYZXOWJJIKuGwlEr53PIEdgpOtiNB5XWL1RR8qB3vJ_jpB3b2Lg/w200-h194/Vibracathedral.jpg" width="200" /></a></b>
</div>
<b>THE VIBRACATHEDRAL DRUM ORCHESTRA/THE VIBRACATHEDRAL STRING BAND (Freedom
From Records)</b>
<p></p>
<p>
This particular one outta a million Vibracathedral Orchestra releases
sports a splattering percussion workout on one side and what sounds like
various stringed instruments of different nationalities being plunked in a
seemingly random fashion on the flip. You'll be surprised to hear me say
this, but this does have somewhat of a skewered avgarde appeal to it
which does jigsaw in with the other Vibracathedral Orchestra recordings I
have heard o'er the years. It may sound rather put on-ish when compared to
the "serious" percussion ensemble works of composers such as John Cage and
Lou Harrison or those Sun Ra string workouts from the sixties, but it's
here for you if you want it and who knows but you just might!
</p><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<p><b></b></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBzmGoNW3eBEU8CGj9h9IwUKJP8yLHJhwpNXyfWhMyXXXTY33d6NZvSQntjYMA2CtQiwBENlA4qnPPevOv0NTOZ32a1rKxp0CRAAo9OXdHYPVtZ_6SKAvcyUjC9amiWoHtaYZj_oFXkx4HiF5rpIlW5x0GLHNO1GhEDoUx9_5XgCi4QlU5MmAJrQ/s1096/Free%20Service.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1096" data-original-width="1080" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBzmGoNW3eBEU8CGj9h9IwUKJP8yLHJhwpNXyfWhMyXXXTY33d6NZvSQntjYMA2CtQiwBENlA4qnPPevOv0NTOZ32a1rKxp0CRAAo9OXdHYPVtZ_6SKAvcyUjC9amiWoHtaYZj_oFXkx4HiF5rpIlW5x0GLHNO1GhEDoUx9_5XgCi4QlU5MmAJrQ/w197-h200/Free%20Service.jpg" width="197" /></a></b>
</div>
<b>The Boston Tea Party-"Free Service"/"I'm Tellin' You" (Flick-Disc
Records)</b>
<p></p>
<p>
As far as non-hit late-sixties rarities go this is nothing special,
although the Boston Tea Party did have a flicker of an idea as to what AM
rock shoulda sounded like even if they <u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">were</u> part and parcel to the neckerchief and Nehru jacket scene of the
day. Of <b><i><u>course</u> </i></b> it has that '69 hipster groove to it that makes you think
that this is just the kind of record Fred from
<b>SCOOBY DOO</b> woulda spun while trying to get some
you-know-whatie offa Daphne, but so did some other boff efforts of the
time like, say, It's All Meat and they weren't one bit bad at all! Sure it
misses the mark as far as the type of music I love to associate with the
late-sixties goes, but even with its lackluster style and approach
I'd take this over Steam any day!
</p><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<p><b></b></p>
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</div>
<b>Charlie Wiener-FOR OTTO SCHMIDDLAPP 7-inch 33 rpm "mini album" (Lode
Records)</b>
<p></p>
<p>
No shittin' ya, this is a <u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">really</u> important (and that ain't no everyday exaggeration given that I
printed "really" not only in italics but in bold and underlined t'boot!)
recording that has some notable significans when it comes to documenting
the the Cleveland First Wave underground scene. That's only because original
Rocket From The Tombs bass guitarist and singer Charlie Wiener performs a number on this '75 release that (no foolin'!) was actually a
part of the original Rocket set list! Now there might have been others on
here that popped up into the mix but "Ixnay Guys (Loose Lips Sink Ships)"
has been documented as one of the group's early pre-"serious" version of
the group efforts and like, for that reason alone any Cle music fan should
at least have its ears perked up regarding this rarity even if only a
little...
</p>
<p>
I was hopin' that Wiener's old "Funn Bunns" would have backed the guy up
thus making this about as close to a document of the early Rocket as we
can get at this time (Wiener and Behemoth, free them tapes!) but
<i>eh!</i> If it's any consolation Viking Saloon owner and one-time Rocket
sitter inner Dick Korn plays drums so maybe you can ooze even more
historical significance outta this even though this ain't exactly
whatcha'd call underground rock by any stretch of the imagination.
</p>
<p>
Naw, Wiener's pretty well settled into his "Hot Country" groove which did him rather well o'er the years, so if you're expectin' some sorta Detroit rock assault whatever you do don't look here.
But for alla you readers who have even a slight curiosity about the early
Rocket well..."Ixnay Guys" sure doesn't come off like what I woulda
imagined the original quartet to sound like one bit, it being a downright rockacountry rouser with a pretty hotcha
beat that keeps your entire innards palpitatin'. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiNrZxhtA6V79zisxWHjiNU3nXsrHsWi1dikGmnZBue6CUS4ntMMzLQpBGnT4VAyH7f_vCY0NHWVj4D_n4YylXaRnmHoSLt0DisqwdRqcfVTW7CocDq08zFX66RwHqPZqrzzZhZOXm4SPInakIhFHWa1trCHNDQufqmruIwfaYaEpNX2Xn5w33WxQ" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="188" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiNrZxhtA6V79zisxWHjiNU3nXsrHsWi1dikGmnZBue6CUS4ntMMzLQpBGnT4VAyH7f_vCY0NHWVj4D_n4YylXaRnmHoSLt0DisqwdRqcfVTW7CocDq08zFX66RwHqPZqrzzZhZOXm4SPInakIhFHWa1trCHNDQufqmruIwfaYaEpNX2Xn5w33WxQ=w188-h200" width="188" /></a>
</div>
<p></p>
The rest dives even deeper through the country sphincter with a romantic
moaner ("It's Over"), a patriotic (I think) paen to the upcoming
Bicentennial ("America") and a love song to the wife ("For My Wife"). Sure it ain't anything for the standard <b>BLOG TO COMM </b>turdburger to
delve into, but it sure is a curiosity that needs to be documented
especially for those of us who were fans of the Cle underground way way back
and still wanna know every little shard and detail about Cleveland's seventies under-the-underground. If you're
curious enough I guess you locate your very own copy somewhere, just don't
ask for (or steal) mine!</div><div><br /></div><div>By the way, if you want to see a "meeting of minds" or at least both Rocket From The Tombs bass guitarists talking about things like Crocus Behemoth and Peter Laughner, just watch this (unfortunately truncated right when it was getting good!) video shot at Cleveland's Beachland Ballroom:</div><div><br /><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6HxihUX30Zg?si=W9r_IotkPZhZNgwt" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote></div><div><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbjuZg3FqJbUnbMhA2Ts5JhP02ZjB1-w3wY_-Yx52qal715ao5Ku1Un1fW_LWJp1_wTPjW67eut_oL_xDG-twSGXwglfma_1fGzExaAjAHZMVXQqz0PtSsH6PZliFtEsjqbNyKqWNDUPiuRNhpaX-3mPKeMBkGHt9bkgojQ7zBUDqJs05jsOfEHg/s1126/Carmerica.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1126" data-original-width="1080" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbjuZg3FqJbUnbMhA2Ts5JhP02ZjB1-w3wY_-Yx52qal715ao5Ku1Un1fW_LWJp1_wTPjW67eut_oL_xDG-twSGXwglfma_1fGzExaAjAHZMVXQqz0PtSsH6PZliFtEsjqbNyKqWNDUPiuRNhpaX-3mPKeMBkGHt9bkgojQ7zBUDqJs05jsOfEHg/w192-h200/Carmerica.jpg" width="192" /></a></div>The Left Banke-"Queen of Paradise"/"And One Day" (Camerica Records)</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>Having not listened to this 'un in nigh over thirty years all I can say is --- "a" side is gunky disco cash-in from an act on the rebound that was way above doing such trash. <i style="font-weight: bold;">However</i>, it still does have what I would call at least a shard of serious "Greg Shaw approved" pop appeal that makes it worth at least one spin. I prefer "And One Day" which even I'll admit also reflects the miasma that we used to call seventies teenbo radio, but this one comes out shining if only because of the talent behind it. Kinda like a slightly pepped up version of solo Eric Carmen without the gloop. Very West Coast sounding for a New York-based group, but for that matter not as potent as that <i>previous</i> Left Banke reunion attempt that gave us those tracks on the <b>HOT PARTS</b> soundtrack. Still, it is an artyfact that's important enough for whatever Left Banke fans that remain after all these years.<blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote></div><div><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSw6vqvE1LTV1WbxQJ-wR1JpoExQwDailks3qrIZ-olZbcWTlBs82G-ePA7hk83Sgy4MRvE3GTKjFXOe3SGI19ryJBLQav0OFUWQu7b_oHrxbwPCdlKWVIpK6u5UQjj48cKEuT2cQLMo8WjrPq1-f803z-wSPxEvctNbN_sNgv8VkMWY8y-8ZMbg/s1080/kack.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1074" data-original-width="1080" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSw6vqvE1LTV1WbxQJ-wR1JpoExQwDailks3qrIZ-olZbcWTlBs82G-ePA7hk83Sgy4MRvE3GTKjFXOe3SGI19ryJBLQav0OFUWQu7b_oHrxbwPCdlKWVIpK6u5UQjj48cKEuT2cQLMo8WjrPq1-f803z-wSPxEvctNbN_sNgv8VkMWY8y-8ZMbg/w200-h199/kack.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Kack Klick-"Lord My Cell is Cold"/"One More Day and One More Night" (House of Guitar Records)</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>A pre-Churchmice Armand Schaubroeck getting way ahead of the low-fi repeato riff crowd. That is, if this <u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">really</u> is a 1963 recording like some sources out there have been telling us for years. Shaubroeck's vocals mix the Jagger and Dylan sneers that were so prevalent '65 way while the music has the same cheap garage sound (and barely "there" performance) that made those Lou Reed Primitives/Roughnecks recordings the 180 degree opposite of them "well produced" and "pristine" pop efforts that were popping up in the fambly collection. Deep and soulful recordings that definitely matched Schaubroeck's mental state while serving time in the pokey.<blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote></div><div><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpDV9iZOgB6xG1_kmiVIkH5tZx1nNSFfNeV1xbCz425w2tsD4RHWBv7ZKXYZKVkMArtI7Ta8C5w9_fPWGFaqvUklT7iy_nb6zbYvinCTW2DH9lDZGKz_IDIn4TOz0rljkW18V8eP4YbdP1D00cg60f1TEGlrp9BbO8KQ7zqujKPi1wAkCZkOS2bA/s1085/mongoose.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1085" data-original-width="1080" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpDV9iZOgB6xG1_kmiVIkH5tZx1nNSFfNeV1xbCz425w2tsD4RHWBv7ZKXYZKVkMArtI7Ta8C5w9_fPWGFaqvUklT7iy_nb6zbYvinCTW2DH9lDZGKz_IDIn4TOz0rljkW18V8eP4YbdP1D00cg60f1TEGlrp9BbO8KQ7zqujKPi1wAkCZkOS2bA/w199-h200/mongoose.jpg" width="199" /></a></div>Elephant's Memory-"Mongoose"/"I Couldn't Dream" (Metromedia Records)</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>Don't know (or care) what you think, but "Mongoose" was one of the better and shoulda been bigger singles (other'n in Pittsburgh where it hit #1) to come outta the rather pathetic year of 1970. Considering the success that horn bands like Chicago and Blood Sweat and Tears were having at the time it's not surprising that this 'un did as well as it did, but while those acts were doing their strictly commercial pump up the kiddos sounds Elephant's Memory had a pretty snazz way of mixing the brass with a particularly good creepy-crawl that separated this 'un from the usual cuddly cute that was then passing for AM radio (see labelmate Bobby Sherman for an example). Flip's one of those neo-retro numbers with whistling and a piano, a bit on the minor side but a bit spright and toe-tapping. Quite pleasing to the hammer and stirrups. Coulda even passed for a Montage outtake!</div><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote><div><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA78fZvEOWMYXwHdEFYLfMBpwm-6bBAFxKVJU5bQ2L5zjLgdHphXSo2aH3VLbGZO2hm5lIiK9m4UCw3i3y9yHvnDXLDssbbEjcSOqgTFWZ7Bn2eT0GVdqRUaTzmyfwA51JiAIfWUpyo9I45XKOo_KbaXwmmKNYHesaRHUlzYk-L_oDbnvADwCqKw/s1080/Super%20K.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1080" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA78fZvEOWMYXwHdEFYLfMBpwm-6bBAFxKVJU5bQ2L5zjLgdHphXSo2aH3VLbGZO2hm5lIiK9m4UCw3i3y9yHvnDXLDssbbEjcSOqgTFWZ7Bn2eT0GVdqRUaTzmyfwA51JiAIfWUpyo9I45XKOo_KbaXwmmKNYHesaRHUlzYk-L_oDbnvADwCqKw/w200-h198/Super%20K.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Super K-"Recurring Nightmare"/"Go Go" (Citadel Records, Australia)</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>From outta the eighties Detroit rock revival scene that took Australia by storm (see Birdhouse review above) came this spin that I recall gobbling up like anything way back when. "Recurring Nightmare" does have a downer edge to it with a melody that reminds me of "96 Tears" filtered through a Jim Morrison barbiturate haze. Fitting music for an era (and a label) that held past accomplishment in such a high esteem. "Go Go" is kinda/sorta bubblegum with bite and femme vocalizing. Something that really would throw off people who hears the "a" side and expected more angst. I didn't think rock 'n roll had it so good back in the eighties (the worst era for rock until the nineties, oughts, teens...), but records like this helped ease the misery.<blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote></div><div><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH7TbtJd4xzdgdVwLZFONf1nQ8SXQX5x2KinZN-QQH3V9JrP6y8GEPSruia0U2aU8FG0DmIWBXOivwtWYITt1gpgq5FZ20BdsCfdSFMGScTH14xngrjtP7A4_wLSZNOTv_nDyg67OOAICwNnbbAYA3fw7L3cmkdOWKy-2velUvQ8gGvBkqQAJ3Eg/s1080/Love%20Me%20Phantom.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1074" data-original-width="1080" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH7TbtJd4xzdgdVwLZFONf1nQ8SXQX5x2KinZN-QQH3V9JrP6y8GEPSruia0U2aU8FG0DmIWBXOivwtWYITt1gpgq5FZ20BdsCfdSFMGScTH14xngrjtP7A4_wLSZNOTv_nDyg67OOAICwNnbbAYA3fw7L3cmkdOWKy-2velUvQ8gGvBkqQAJ3Eg/w200-h199/Love%20Me%20Phantom.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>The Phantom-"Love Me"/"Whisper Your Love" (eighties-vintage Dot Records knockoff)</b></div><div> </div><div>Rockabilly makes its way to the Dot label with this over-the-top-and-then-some screamer that put the oomph in the budding genre 'n then even more! I'm sure that a vast majority of people would think that "Love Me" had <u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">NIL</u> to do with any sort of idealized romantic interest and come to think it doesn't, but it's still a crazed impassioned call that I'm sure woulda wowed some of the looser members of the female persuasion had this 'un only gotten out more. "Whisper" sounds like whatcha'd expect from something in the old Southern rock 'n roll style, 'n I still have a hard time believing that Pat Boone had <u style="font-weight: bold;">ANYTHING</u> to do with this guy! </div>
</div>
</div>Christopher Stiglianohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17107248034597839482noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6910067.post-7941036578987095492023-10-01T08:09:00.005-04:002023-10-01T08:45:34.770-04:00<div>
Brace yourselves, for here I go taking the time and energy to spout off about
my current obsessions in the half-baked hope that someone out there will see this and want to
connect with me for whatever reasons they may conjure up in their pea-sized brains. But then again probably not
because frankly I could care less about any of you anymore but back to the subject
--- ever since I can remember I've been a person who has been a slave to the
various fancies, passions and/or obsessions that have passed my psyche, enough to the point where I would bore
telephone callers with whatever subject I was deeply engrossed in at the time of the unfortunate ring up.
It could have been anything from old television programs to long-forgotten
three-wheeled automobiles and now-obscure actors who may have put in an
appearance or two at the legendary Educational Films Exchange. Although
you might not think that much of it and perhaps even think less about me for
it but as far as this particular fanabla was concerned well, these current interests were the blood 'n guts of my otherwise feh-like
existence!
</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>
This blog continues on with the tradition so-to-speak, and let's just say that
if you're the kind of person who just ain't savvy to my downright love for the
old, obscure and somewhat
<u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">SACRED</u> sorta sights
and sounds that earwig their way through my soul there might be a much
better blog suited to your personal tastes like
<b>SEXUAL RESPONSE OF THE ADOLESCENT IBEX </b>or some other keen-o
title I could swipe out of any sixty-five-year-old issue of <b>MAD</b>. Otherwise just settle down and get used to it --- it's my life and I can do whatever I want to you in it and if you so dare you can always hang up as many a bored recipient has.</div><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
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</div>
You probably have it already, but if you don't I'm sure there are plenty of
issues of <b>FAUX WOOD PANELING </b>#3 available for you to give an
eyeballing to (see link on the left and get in touch!). Of
<u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">course</u> its great,
sorta like one of those "personal" genzines of the sixties/seventies with a
stream of somethingorother flow and a massive jump from one thing to another
like not just from A to B to C but like from A to Q and maybe a sidestep to G
and then <i>maybe</i> back to B and C before hitting Z (guess where I lifted
<i style="font-weight: bold;">that</i> concept from and I'll send you
absolutely nothing!). Subjects to be found in this issue --- Bon Scott
(s'posedly a Joe Carducci effort), Damo Suzuki, polka, book reviews (including
one that was inspired by a post found on this very blog!) and quite a bit on
anime ---- well, at least it ain't <i style="font-weight: bold;">hentai!</i>
</div>
<div>
<i style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></i>
</div>
<div>
Sad to say tho that I haven't played the
<b>FAUX WOOD PANELING ROCKS</b> CD-r that came with this ish yet. It's a
doozy of a spinner too with a variety of songs both heard and not by me,
something which I get the idea would make for splendid sunny afternoon driving
backdrop. Next time I have a splendid sunny afternoon where I'm goin' somewhere this will be
on the deck.
</div><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote><div><div>This modern day animation had me thinkin' for a minute (OK a whole hour) that it was actually some real deal lost video! Just think how lifelike this is gonna look ten years from now when technology (hopefully) gets into overdrive!</div><div><br /></div><div><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QAlw83pm0NY?si=MpJ-gtN57ssje_O3" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><div><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote></div><div>Words can't really express the gratitude that I have for people like Paul
McGarry and Robert Forward for sending me these burns of new and not-so recordings that appear in most every one of my "normal" <i>ifyaknowaddamean</i> posts. Considering the hefty cost of
purchasing such items especially for a cheapskate such as I these
recordings really do take a strain off the ol'
pocketbook and helps me divert my dinero to other perhaps not-so-crucial
concerns such as taxes, medicine and various other thingies that I personally
could do without (blackmail). Bought one or maybe even more (we'll see) items
that are up for the ol' scrutiny but let's just say that if it weren't for
these fine friends these posts would be just about as long as a Cambodian
lifespan.</div></div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>
Special thanx to Forward who keeps sending these Ornette Coleman "boot" burns,
an entire turdload at that which is taking me forever to go through. Only able
to spin a short portion of these given my rather fractured free time, so I get
the feeling that I'll be listening to the final minutes of these during
<u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">my</u> final minutes.
</div><div><br /></div>
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<b><br /></b>
</div>
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</div>
Alice Cooper-KILLER, EXPANDED VERSION 2-CD set (Warners/Rhino Records)</b>
</div>
<div>
<b><br /></b>
</div>
<div>
Sheesh, these bigtime labels really know how to getcha to dig deep into yer
pockets for things ya had for eons awlready! However when it come to me<i>me</i><u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">ME</u> I better have a
<u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">GOOD</u> reason to
spend my precious pennies for such items that I would otherwise ignore, and
with this double duty Alice Cooper spinner I sure got the excuse that I was
lookin' for!
</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>
Platter #1's the same <b>KILLER</b> we've (presumably) have heard
for ages, but although it purports to be a better mix I can't tell the diff.
Of course listening on a cheap portable player doesn't always bring out them
nuances that hi fi nuts are on the lookout for but eh, at least this new
edition's a pretty good enough excuse to listen to it again.
</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>
Disque #2's got a Cooper set from the '72 Mar y Sol fest that sounds as if it
coulda been a fair contender for an actual live spinner, or at least the
bootleg of the year had somebody had the wherewithal to smuggle this 'un out. Still, these live trax don't quite match the originals and the show doesn't kick in at least until the "Dead
Babies"/"Killer" climax but wha' th' <i>hey</i>. The early, slowed down (and
instrumental) version of "School's Out"'s something that even the casual
Cooper follower would splurge the good twennysome-plus bucks this'll cost'cha
for.
</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>
The big surprise of the album's the ne'er before heard outtakes, with a
radically rearranged "You Drive Me Nervous", a horn-less "Under My Wheels" and
a "Dead Babies" that ain't that much of a switch from the more famous version,
but they stuck in on here anyway and you get extra music so quit complainin'!
<blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
</div>
<div>
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</div>
The Electric Eels-SPIN AGE BLASTERS CD-r burn (originally on Scat
Records)</b>
<div>
<b><br /></b>
</div>
<div>
It's kinda/sorta surprising that McGarry sent me this 'round the same time I
got the Alice thingie directly above. I always thought that Alice's "Yeah
Yeah Yeah" sounded rather Eels-ish and well, after re-listening to that 'un
it's more'n obvious where the Eels got a whole lotta their inspiration from!
Talk about good timing on your part Paul!
</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>
I believe most of you've already heard these numbers but even if you have
you'll still want this. SQ's been upgraded a bit --- about as good as a
cheap studio as if that matters to you non-audiophile nuts out there. Nice
cover too and eh, maybe there are some new and insightful liner notes
that came with this one making a flesh and blood purchase worth my while.
Now when's Mr. Griffin gonna release them Summer '76 "Eclectic Eels"
rehearsals with Tim Wright on bass guitar 'n even some Adele Bertei???
</div>
<div><br /></div>
<div>
Might be worth the pennies you're scrimping and saving with in these
inflation-laden days because hey, even if you've been in on the legend for
decades the Electric Eels
<u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">are</u> more
important than food!
</div>
<blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<div>
<p><b></b></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8VOwZdK-lxTkUiXhhTweYjb20q68UIsdi0RQUflGPiKs6awAUeTSpWdujEYcg50t8HOUyXNuOgIrmQ9oV3wx-NM1EAeh5_jbDuWIydFJs0RoaVHUN-ckgvjvzwAvpCLjvkj4-jQNfFWOz9H-4LwBeifkqJkd8glbhmkxZH_ha9yN85BUpxBg9zQ/s1080/Dum%20Dum%20France.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1080" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8VOwZdK-lxTkUiXhhTweYjb20q68UIsdi0RQUflGPiKs6awAUeTSpWdujEYcg50t8HOUyXNuOgIrmQ9oV3wx-NM1EAeh5_jbDuWIydFJs0RoaVHUN-ckgvjvzwAvpCLjvkj4-jQNfFWOz9H-4LwBeifkqJkd8glbhmkxZH_ha9yN85BUpxBg9zQ/w200-h198/Dum%20Dum%20France.jpg" width="200" /></a></b>
</div>
<b>The Dum Dum Boys-NOTHING MEANS NOTHING CD-r burn (originally on Closer
Records, France?)</b>
<p></p>
<p>
I guess these ain't the New Zealand Dum Dum Boys but a late-eighties
French variant who I "might have" heard a long time back. These Dum Dum's
are not bad what with their eighties-era take on past punk accomplishment,
but they're somewhat pale when compared to the Detroit-inspired blare that
was so potent that the NZ band of the same name hadda skedaddle to
Australia for its own good. Well, they do play some pretty competent and
straight ahead rock 'n roll that reminds me of the (French) Dogs and other
local yokels who kept on doin' it high energy in a world that
couldn't care less. If you were the kind of person who purchased such
European publications as
<b>HARTBEAT</b> or <b>RIPPLE</b> you'll definitely go for this
'un.
</p>
<blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<p><b></b></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnACp6F0z2jlwdCJBEPw92_cu9wnmxbCt4gnSW4dNFAB0bmWOUaqKzZUinJfJPp0N5sHql26t86y5k3CbkTYy7nQHNUI9hp8IkUsPj-sYpe4USnivukF7DQlqBdRaCyYzAmg0ci37irGXM_lkxYZZ5HHppL7EtXG6_FAXFtWHRV0T3-L8r9bNfbg/s567/Is%20this%20Real.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="567" data-original-width="563" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnACp6F0z2jlwdCJBEPw92_cu9wnmxbCt4gnSW4dNFAB0bmWOUaqKzZUinJfJPp0N5sHql26t86y5k3CbkTYy7nQHNUI9hp8IkUsPj-sYpe4USnivukF7DQlqBdRaCyYzAmg0ci37irGXM_lkxYZZ5HHppL7EtXG6_FAXFtWHRV0T3-L8r9bNfbg/w199-h200/Is%20this%20Real.jpg" width="199" /></a></b>
</div>
<b>The Wipers-IS THIS REAL? CD-r burn (originally on Park Avenue Records,
then Sub Pop much later on)</b>
<p></p>
<p>
(<b>WARNING</b>: a whole load of personalist hatethrash and tearing open
of old wounds appears in the following, some of it which might be just too
boring and unnecessary to your very existence to withstand! But then again
given how I can sus most of you readers out you just might go for it if only out of a morbid curiosity. As many
of you know I am a bitter person and I pretty much explain why I happen to
be so in the following soul-bear. It might totally turn you off not only
to this blog but myself given how I am prone to feel sorry for myself
[well,
<u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">somebody</u> has
to!] so let's just say it ain't like I didn't tell ya.
</p>
<p>
Then again, if I totally delete this review like I tend to do most if not
all of my hatescreeds directed at the enemies of myself and this blog
well, you don't have to worry about making your way through all this
steam-letting. But I personally think it's some of my best writing as of
late so I will do my durndest to keep it all intact and, for that matter,
unexpurgated. Because frankly, at this stage of my life, I don't give a
dingdong how petty and immature I come off!)
</p>
<p>
Haven't listened to very much Wipers o'er these past thirtysome years.
That's because, when you get way deep down into it, I really am whatcha'd
call a feeling, sensitive, cry over a broken flower sort of person this world sure could use a whole
lot more of.
</p>
<p>
Y'see, back 'round '87 way a certain "rock critic" actually used a Wipers
review to poke some pretty damning fun at me, and although I usually
brushed such things off I couldn't this time since this crit had treated
me rather nice just a short time earlier and the 180 sure came off like a
hefty gut punch. It did hurt, in the wallet that is since I was one who <b><i><u>REALLY</u> </i></b>hadda scrimp and save to put a mag out on an even less than shoestring budget and I
couldn't afford a loss in readership and besides like, this was all
happening at a time in my life that wasn't exactly the tippy toppest and
in fact was pretty depressing for reasons I won't go into here. And here
comes some rich Boston to New York record label "mogul" trying to make underground
brownie points by doin' the ol' build up/tear down game with me costing me
perhaps half if not more of my potential readership! (I tried making nicey
nice with the guy but he [a real snob as I could tell from merely
talking to him purposefully mis-reading my reviews because he deep down
really is a jerk deserving of death] wouldn't have any part of it perhaps
because, once you get down to it, he definitely <i>is</i> of a higher realm and looks down
upon lower forms of life such as myself.) Really does hit you hard, in the
ol' pocketbook <i>ifyaknowaddamean...</i>
</p>
<p>
Well, until I either get a whole load of much needed
<u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">revenge</u> (justice just don't cut it no mo') or have a good laugh at this
certain "person"'s inevitable demise I'll try to get them decades old
feelings outta the way and enjoy this particular piece of what I'd call an
important watermark in rock 'n roll history (no hyperbole about that!).
<b>IS THIS REAL</b> is one platter that screeches out the high energy rock 'n roll while
spewing out a lotta the same punk unto <i>post-</i>punk (yech!)
neo-cliches making them <b>WORK</b> for once. Unlike the Northwest grunge this
music had ultimately <i>led</i> to the Wipers mix a whole load of
taste in (and leave the stoner outta) their swivel making for a music you
can enjoy especially because (at least on the surface) it appears that the
musicians <b>DON'T</b> want to wallow in the same pigsty of
precocious self-consciousness that many of the groups they've influenced
seemed to crave.
</p>
<p>
Some of them typical eighties hard-thud bass/neo-badass guitar moves can be
discerned making <b>IS THIS REAL?</b> a heavy metal monster as much
as it is a punk monument. Thanks to the more'n just "obvious" talents of
Wipers leader Greg Sage and band a whole load of what could have been
instant tossout comes off rather sleek and just what the doctor ordered
with regards to music in "that raw state of becoming" as Wayne McGuire
once so succinctly put it. Unfettered forcefulness with control which
gives that overused "power trio" term the proper rectal kick it needed for
years on end.
</p>
<p>
The reish comes with some additional goodies that thankfully were not left
on the cutting room floor as well as the <b>ALIEN BOY</b> EP which I
might have reviewed on this blog way back when but am too lazy to find out
for sure. It all stirs up the rock spirit in me (dunno about you) and the
plain fact that this platter is jarring enough to remind me of various
eighties accomplishment is strong enough to make me wanna dig up my copy
of the <b>TRAP SAMPLER</b> with the Wipers sharing some precious
vinyl space with locals such as Pell Mell, Drum Bunny and Napalm Beach.
Shee-yit, my review of that 'un's what
<u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">started</u> the
whole disgusting mess which turned me off the Wipers for a good many years
--- let's hope it don't make me even
<u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">MORE</u> hate-filled than I already am!
</p><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<p><b></b></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL9-94nI49DvBRJXI1Q80HMORd88w3aHAe4JaGWAMx6JyJLvGIiu11m_R40EycBqjKpKUguED7K-k76Me2A-OHHOVjWb09T4w7L8qyEYsFjiJne6fqN_fqDubhmWBj1EzQFWm1a0u03jD5_8pI4pBAsJ4k0y3pquW2sJushClP2wFVWyZf30U-tA/s611/new%20math.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="584" data-original-width="611" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL9-94nI49DvBRJXI1Q80HMORd88w3aHAe4JaGWAMx6JyJLvGIiu11m_R40EycBqjKpKUguED7K-k76Me2A-OHHOVjWb09T4w7L8qyEYsFjiJne6fqN_fqDubhmWBj1EzQFWm1a0u03jD5_8pI4pBAsJ4k0y3pquW2sJushClP2wFVWyZf30U-tA/w200-h191/new%20math.jpg" width="200" /></a></b>
</div>
<b>New Math-DIE TRYING OR OTHER HOT SOUNDS CD-r burn (originally on
Propeller Sound Recordings, 2023)</b>
<p></p>
<p>
Not being one iota familiar with this group (or if I had been I totally
excised 'em from my memory) I approached this one thinking it was gonna be
one a those early-eighties styled "gnu wave" cute and precocious efforts
that got all the attention at the expense of the more gnarly sounds. For
once in my life I'm (more or less) wrong, because I'll admit that this
Rochester NY group did a fairly good job with their late-seventies
pop-punk pounce that someone like myself never really got "into" but eh, it's there for ya! New
Math will appeal to the more flash dress shades 'n badges types that used
to proliferate the local hipster cool cat scene a good forty-plus
years back and I found it somewhat entertaining myself. Just don't ask me to listen to it again. </p><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<p><b></b></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivoUc99nwxbe1zlmce0eunrCkU3DQWSQoi_iQ9nD7FNc-1xC0lOOz8yAm3OSKXPTGUDGdhh5Y4b70jFc_ISV6T1sxrG7i-vJAO-l6pFpFhe3endd5aP-RpaYqmh9L-fVEzCaVv4CNwE7KpKQYTSEre8O6o8DDL32pgVHGaxapP9MHwyGXYBSgtAg/s1080/Unto%20I%20Am.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1028" data-original-width="1080" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivoUc99nwxbe1zlmce0eunrCkU3DQWSQoi_iQ9nD7FNc-1xC0lOOz8yAm3OSKXPTGUDGdhh5Y4b70jFc_ISV6T1sxrG7i-vJAO-l6pFpFhe3endd5aP-RpaYqmh9L-fVEzCaVv4CNwE7KpKQYTSEre8O6o8DDL32pgVHGaxapP9MHwyGXYBSgtAg/w200-h191/Unto%20I%20Am.jpg" width="200" /></a></b>
</div>
<b>Charles Gayle-UNTO I AM CD (Les Disques VICTO, Canada)</b>
<p></p>
<p>Here's the legendary Gayle solo session recorded in Montreal that sorta, uh,
<i>shook up</i> a few of the recent fannage that gathered 'round the
late multi-instrumentalist a good thirty or so years back. And not
necessarily from the music itself which is shattering enough even for
those of you born and bred of the AACM/BAG system of sound deconstruction.
</p><p>It is an extreme affair to say the least what with Gayle's solo sax and bass clarinet coming off highly reminiscent of those Roscoe Mitchell efforts that ended up on a whole slew of small labels throughout the seventies. More amazing's when Gayle plays drums <u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">AND</u> sax simultaneously actually sounding like two separate entities a la <b>INTERSTELLAR SPACE</b> or <b>DUO EXCHANGE </b><i>ifyoucanbelieveit!</i> An incredible achievement that really knocks one for that oft-used "loop" term, making me wonder if anyone else had come up with the same idea earlier (of course any help'd be appreciated although I double any of you would bother responding). </p><p>Of course the piano track where Gayle gets into his street preacher mode and offends a good portion of his uppercrust fans is the real deal reason to get this, not only because of the free splat piano playing (as far as I know not even Cecil Taylor had gone this far!) but for the impassioned sermonizing regarding all of those hot button morality-based subjects that are bound to "offend". Sheesh, after all of the <u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">OFFENDING</u> these precious petunia types have been shoving down decent peoples' throats for what seems like ages don'tcha think that said people should be on the <i><u style="font-weight: bold;">RECEIVING</u> </i>end for once in their sick and shallow lives? I sure do, even though these flowering types think they're too anointed and above us all to have any sort of contrary opine reach their so-tender ears!</p><p>A real worthy to have and to hold. Perhaps the pick of the week/month/whatever.</p><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<p>
Listen, I can set up some Paypal account or a GoFundMe in order to get
some much needed money flowin' my way, but all I ask of you is to buy
some <a href="https://black2com.blogspot.com/2023/02/what-do-all-these-creatures-have-in.html">back issues of <b>BLACK TO COMM</b></a> not only for me to get some of the moolah I spent on them back but to get some more moving around space here at the old abode. Whaddaya wan' me
t'do anyway, make up some story about my basement getting flooded in order
to squeeze the compassion outta you like some soaking rag???
</p>
</div>
</div>
Christopher Stiglianohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17107248034597839482noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6910067.post-62336677248868557892023-09-25T08:16:00.007-04:002023-10-12T06:12:03.815-04:00<p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-_bzLEpPbpQUcsYbNBmmHP9i_2o3IAuBskNYleUkys0iyCVlNfDFCx0AFNoxxnsZ4cBjQXA0xouqQYZm-xnOnKysSV6eOTTvZovWTj9aQnF_10kllFRsVfPm9xKKplAfvNM5wAskmM6YsrHowUzayXl8FpJUXT7X4ra_F1v9GJ1l_TVz_d7OTgg/s1410/Funnies.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1410" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-_bzLEpPbpQUcsYbNBmmHP9i_2o3IAuBskNYleUkys0iyCVlNfDFCx0AFNoxxnsZ4cBjQXA0xouqQYZm-xnOnKysSV6eOTTvZovWTj9aQnF_10kllFRsVfPm9xKKplAfvNM5wAskmM6YsrHowUzayXl8FpJUXT7X4ra_F1v9GJ1l_TVz_d7OTgg/s320/Funnies.jpg" width="245" /></a></b></span></div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>COMIC BOOK REPRINT REVIEW!</b><i style="font-weight: bold;"> THE FUNNIES</i> <b>#3 (Gwandanaland Comics)</b></span><p></p><p><br /></p><p>You've already read my <a href="https://black2com.blogspot.com/2017/11/comic-book-review-popular-comics-1.html">review</a> of <b>POPULAR COMICS</b>, one of the many newspaper comic strip reprint titles (known as BORMS --- Books Of Reprinted Material --- in the comic book world) that proliferated from the mid-thirties until about a good two decades more/less later. Well, here's another quite similar comic book, although while <b>POPULAR</b> concentrated on the strips that were being pushed by the Chitown Trib syndicate the ones in <b>POPULAR</b> were part and parcel to Cleveland's NEA Services, a syndicate that I really go for as far as these classic olde tymey strips go. NEA was more than willing to distribute the kind of comics that might have been too cornpone or for that matter even too screwy for the competition, and although the strip scene of the thirties was perhaps at the top of its form the ones that NEA handled had a sort of special appeal that went after the heavy hitting har-hars as well as the quiet rural reminiscences of a world that would slowly turn into something quite different once World War II got into gear.</p><p>Front cover's got a Major Hoople drawing that was more'n obviously <i style="font-weight: bold;">not</i> delineated by either Gene Ahern nor any of the artists who continued on <b>OUR BOARDING HOUSE</b> when Ahearn left for greener dollars. Kind of a lousy drawing if I say so myself, but don't fear 'cause the Hoople who appears inside is the bonafide guy (post Ahern since no credit was given or asked for that matter) and the stories presented are pretty top notch and indicative of the happier side of an existence where little things like comic pages meant a real whole lot! A great way for depression-era kids to while away the hours for mere pennies at that, and hey even this far down the line someone with the mental acumen of myself can sure get more enjoyment outta strips like this 'un 'n <b>ALLEY OOP</b>* than I can every shard of what is being churned out as entertainment these days, popular or not. And if that makes me a bad human being then call me Lucifer himself!</p><p>Hey, they're not <i>all</i> NEA Services strips, because a few outsiders such as <b>DAN DUNN</b> and a pre-DC (and then Harvey) <b>MUTT AND JEFF</b> show up here. Not only that but there are a few original comics turnin' up in the mix --- Sheldon Mayer's <b>SCRIBBLY</b>, best known for his long tenure at the All-American line which also gave us the Flash, Green Lantern etc., surprisingly enough makes an appearance here. These <b>SCRIBBLY</b>s were actually done up in a Sunday funnies format as well if only to fool the doofs out there into thinking it t'was an actual comic strip as if the single-digit readers out there would care one whit but eh! When Dell's Max Gaines trekked over to DC Mayer went along with him and well, would their comedy line, for what it was, been the same without the likes of him and Bob Oskner?</p><p>What makes this particular <b>SCRIBBLY</b> whatcha'd call "noteworthy" is the storyline regarding the boy cartoonist actually meeting his favorite artist, mainly one Ving Parker. I kinda wonder if this particular "Ving" is in actuality Ving Fuller, the cartoonist who was immortalized when he was offhandedly mentioned, in a somewhat negative light at that, in a <b>LI'L ABNER</b> cartoon. Dunno why Al Capp had it in for the guy but sheesh, that curt putdown's probably the only reason anyone would remember the man a good almost ninety years after the fact!</p><p>Face it, but some of the strips showin' up just don't have that punch in the psyche <u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">zing</u> that made for fun reading even then let alone now. <b>HERKY</b> was a kiddie comic about as funny as Whoopi Goldberg while <b>BOOTS</b> was just another one of those young career-chasing femme strips that was for the (yech!) <i>gurls</i>, unless you were a boy and liked Tijuana Bibles. As far as serious fare, <b>BEN WEBSTER'S DIARY </b>looked about as stiff-figure stilted as Dave Berg and was dryer to boot, and perhaps if they tapered off with the <b>TAILSPIN TOMMY</b>s and <b>CAPTAIN EASY</b>s (both fine comics yet deserving of their own space) they coulda added more personal faves like <b>OUT OUR WAY</b> and <b>OUR BOARDING HOUSE</b> (only two of the latter which appear here, one with topper strip <b>THE NUT BROTHERS</b> lopped off!). Sheesh, there are only a couple <b>SALESMAN SAM</b>s<b> </b> 'n like I sure coulda used a few more of that particularly crazed "screwball" strip myself!</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2WYWT3jAx95oI3LuL_7EyFvgV9adEzhwoN44FooLsoWiGzP_Cz90qqpT9vTQhGoFzQNdIvMQdvZnSAaMQVmWu53neCEsmAcOqXgRJ7KKyewS_ptD5Yp1dZK5gXunaTHPCLSoNeOH2V9xXYTjB_ZNv_CRG5H1NmjnzSCP2MybHuH69VLf9vk63EQ/s1345/Funnies%202.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1345" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2WYWT3jAx95oI3LuL_7EyFvgV9adEzhwoN44FooLsoWiGzP_Cz90qqpT9vTQhGoFzQNdIvMQdvZnSAaMQVmWu53neCEsmAcOqXgRJ7KKyewS_ptD5Yp1dZK5gXunaTHPCLSoNeOH2V9xXYTjB_ZNv_CRG5H1NmjnzSCP2MybHuH69VLf9vk63EQ/s320/Funnies%202.jpg" width="257" /></a></div>If I had any beef in general to say about <b>THE FUNNIES</b> or BORMs in general is that strips with continuing storylines just don't cut it given that yer gonna come in on the fun and jamz smack inna middle and you hafta wait until the next ish to see how things turn out (and on and on...). Speaking of such strips, didja know that Gaines had to be persuaded to have these strips published <i>in proper order</i> because he thought it would be just fine enough if they were plopped into these comics willy nilly as if any of the kids were gonna notice the difference! (Of <u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">course</u> you knew given I already mentioned this in my review of <b>POPULAR COMICS</b>, but I doubt any of you had the curiosity to even bother clicking the above link to read that writeup!)<p></p>Before I go, I gotta marvel at the Gilbert chemistry set ad that appears on the backside of this 'un! Gee, talk 'bout impending disasters once the kids begged their parents for one of these only for the splish splosh of chemicals to cause grievous harm. Didn't William Burroughs blow off the tip of his pinkie after foolin' 'round with one of these? Well in his case it <b>SERVED HIM RIGHT</b> even if the experience didn't keep him from turning into that sicko you all adore and love.<p></p><div>________________________________________________________________</div><div>*it's still running although even I must admit that the steam went out way back, perhaps as early as when the time traveling angle was introduced according to my father. The modern day Sunday version is, now get this, called <b>LITTLE OOP</b> and it features Alley as a child and is drawn in that current cutesy <b>MARVIN/CRABGRASS</b> style that's been the norm for some time. In these strips Oop is seen engaging in supposedly humorous escapades in what looks like a perhaps vain attempt to remain relevant on what's left of the funny pages, flopping miserably in the process. Like <b>NANCY,</b> it is deserving of a quick and somewhat merciful euthanizing. </div>Christopher Stiglianohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17107248034597839482noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6910067.post-60917939851841642202023-09-17T13:28:00.004-04:002023-09-17T13:57:26.409-04:00<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYhRiMG5_UxNOhiiCBFxpvmx1GBXxwDC54xgCcsVN4hhqFhjbjgjGm63IAW1nctjfAwquhpgYFThQP51E09uQYj8OHANbhA57qovOofOM08J_WtSIRRQE9S1p3Hu8HJdXvMUnzls3c5b75oD9FTRtyYSJ3VdoIyYbm7FlsDwu_ZYyDMU0xmH-q2w/s500/Nazimova.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYhRiMG5_UxNOhiiCBFxpvmx1GBXxwDC54xgCcsVN4hhqFhjbjgjGm63IAW1nctjfAwquhpgYFThQP51E09uQYj8OHANbhA57qovOofOM08J_WtSIRRQE9S1p3Hu8HJdXvMUnzls3c5b75oD9FTRtyYSJ3VdoIyYbm7FlsDwu_ZYyDMU0xmH-q2w/w400-h300/Nazimova.png" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>MOOM PITCHER REVIEW! </b><i style="font-weight: bold;">SALOME </i><span style="font-weight: bold;">(1923) </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">STARRING ALLA NAZIMOVA, DIRECTED BY CHARLES BRYANT</span></span><p></p><p><span><span>Yeah, I just <i>gotta</i> start this off mentioning the obvious...is this film the <u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">gayest</u> or what? From the <i>fru-fru </i>art deco set to the half-naked effeminate actors with pasties on their bullseyes not forgetting all of the muscular black men who show off a good portion of partially bared cheeks, you kinda wonder whether you're watching a Biblical drama or a Kenneth Anger wet dream. But homo orientation aside well, I gotta say that I was kind of "drawn" into it.</span></span></p><p>Some call <b>SALOME</b> the first art film ever made but I believe there have been a few avgarde efforts cranked out earlier even if most seemed more concerned with geometric designs and wobbly camerawork. Anyhoo, the story and production kept me glued to the screen, perhaps because the frilly film snob angle wasn't <u style="font-style: italic;">that</u> much of an irritation during those early cinematic days and I don't have to suffer from snobdom by association.</p><p>But eh, if you are the kind of person who goes for Art Gnuveau convolutedness maybe you too would enjoy this arthouse extravaganza birthed from the mind of a soon to be locked up Oscar Wilde with sets based on Aubrey Beardsley's very own designs for the original stage presentation. If that ain't loafer light enough for you I don't know what is!</p><p>Nazimova naturally chews up the screen with her roaring twenties looks and halfway decent attempts to portray a girl way younger than her fortyish features (distance shots do help somewhat). The over-emotive acting not only from the star but the supporting cast (Nigel De Brulie as the scrawniest John the Baptist [or Jokaanan as he's called here] I've ever seen to those two patented gay porn studs who quiver in fear at the mere thought of Salome gazing upon them) actually do lend a certain campiness to the film, but it at least helps give <b>SALOME</b> a dream-like air and lends a tad bit of <i>dareIsay</i> nobility to the proceedings. </p><p>The plot might seem somewhat twisto-changeo, but the tints and scenery. along with the over-emotive acting, only adds to the overall (now hold on) <i>awe</i>. Of course we all know of the Biblical account (or so I assume) but for the life of me, (spoiler alert as they say) I wonder why Herod ordered Salome's execution after she has Jokaanan beheaded and then falls in love with his bean and regrets her wish? (After all, she "kills the things she loves, loves the things she kills" as the title card says.) Seems rather strange behavior for a movie filled with a load of confusing zigzags, but in many ways I gotta say that the bitch had it comin'. Since I am not whatcha'd call a Biblical scholar maybe someone out there can give a hint!</p><p>Watching this I get the same sense of experiencing something that seems somewhat noble and perhaps even <i>holy</i>, the same feeling I got seeing other early cinematic excursions from <b>THE PASSION OF JOAN OF ARC</b> to even the DW Griffith swansong for Biograph, <b>JUDITH OF BETHULIA</b>. Even some equally renown if even more experimental film efforts such as <b>LOT IN SODOM</b> (I read that the two flicks were double billed in NYC way back when and I couldn't think of a better pairing!) as well as some perhaps unlikely efforts such as<b> INAUGURATION OF THE PLEASURE DOME</b> and <b>RABBIT'S MOON</b> if only for the settings, costumes and ethereal nature which really brings back the mid-teen awe I had for movies at a time when I began to <b><i>pay attention</i></b>.</p><p>So yeah, if you're a fan of the silent era and want to glom something that might be somewhat different from the usual revival house Chaplin/Keaton fare you might wanna give this legendary film (so legendary that I thought I'd better check it out before I clocked out into eternity) a try. Well, for being as lavender as they come it sure makes for a good change from most all of the in-your-face (and at times in more ways than one!) gay propaganda that's been shoved down our gullets these past thirtysome years.</p><p>One interesting aside that I think I should mention if only to give you even more chuckles outta this review and that is well, you know those Gold Dust Twins lookalikes with the piled up wighats and big-pocketed diapers who sporadically appear throughout the film? Well, at the tail end of the film the two can be briefly seen throwing jewels from their pockets at each other for reasons that totally escape me other'n to perhaps signify the folly of riches (I mean, can you think of anything better?). Actually when I first saw the film (and given that the quality ain't exactly state of the art) I thought they were digging into their diapers and throwing <i style="font-weight: bold;">feces</i> at each other which certainly gave me the impression that this moom pitcher was being arty way ahead of its time! Of course I'm wondering what the symbolism of <u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">THAT</u> rather disgusting act would have been all about but eh, if they <b><i><u>were</u></i></b> throwing number two all I gotta say is this film just <u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">hadda</u> have been the gayest!</p><p>And if you'd really like to give <b>SALOME</b> a good eyeballing, I slapped the film directly at the end of this post for your benefit. Turn your own fart-encrusted bedroom into an arty theatre happy in the knowledge that there won't be any guy sitting next to you putting his hand on your knee.</p>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Fs2FGskJOFI" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>Christopher Stiglianohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17107248034597839482noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6910067.post-80246848793351725652023-09-12T08:53:00.003-04:002023-09-14T13:50:54.263-04:00<p>
I can't really help it, but today I gotta admit that I actually feel --- just
<i><b>slightly</b> </i>miserable! Well, that sure is a come-up from the glum 'n gloom that I
feel almost all of the time anymore given the sad state of life and the way people like <u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">YOU</u> tend to treat me (break out the world's tiniest violin for <i>that</i> 'un!). Maybe this post will then have an even more
lighter and carefree than a maxipad commercial lilt to it which, thankfully,
would be a nice respite from the usual piss I love squirting in most of you
readers' faces.
</p>
<blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<p></p><p>Although things 'round here have been quieter'n inside Helen Keller's head there undoubtedly have been a few things that have brightened up the pasture. I've been fortunate enough to have received an entire ton of Cee-Dee-Are burns, unsolicited at that, and frankly it would take at least a dozen of me's to sort through the entire batch of 'em within a decent amount of time! Muchos gracias to the likes of Paul McGarry, Thierry Muller (who keeps me abreast of French rarities although no European Son or Crouille Marteau as of yet!) as well as Robert Forward for these, the latter who has delivered package after package of disques these past few weeks in what must have set him back a big bundle not only in the burns themselves but the postage and handling! </p><p>The envelope with a whole batch of jazzbo platters including about five or so Ornette Coleman recordings labeled "boot" sure looks mighty enticing 'specially to a freer 'n free jazz guy like myself, though at this point in time all I have been able to make my way through was this Anthony Braxton live thing from '75 with Roscoe Mitchell, Richard Teitelbaum and some other doofus (a term I usually use as a friendly dig atcha!) whose name I can't recall. Also copped a first few tracks of the Sun Ra one which starts off with the infamous early '80s paen to what we thought was impending annihilation entitled "Nuclear War" with all of the cussing intact! I've always been surprised by this track what with the repeated obscenities --- I mean Ra has always presented himself as a man of virtue who was glad that people were going to see movies like <b>STAR W</b><b>ARS</b> 'stead of dirty films 'n such 'n I never woulda thought he'd be singing all vulgar like he does here! Sheesh, this 'un is almost as startling as if I had heard Mister Rogers blurt out a string of blasphemies in a fit of rage 'r somethin'!</p><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote><p><b>REST IN PEACE</b> ('n I <i>mean</i> it!) Charles Gayle, the eventually notorious jazz multi-instrumentalist who after years of bubbling way under the free play radar got some well-deserved recognition in the early-nineties <b><i><u>and</u> </i></b>at a time when people like myself were on the lookout for a new avant garde player to rally around. Hey, what's the name of that album where Gayle preaches on about a whole load of moral subjects that really got some of the more, er, <i>forward thinking</i> fans out there mighty uncomfortable? I wanna get that one and drive around town while that 'un's blasting at full volume!</p><p>Also r.i.p. jazz bassist Richard Davis, who all of the obits mention played with Van Morrison and Bruce Springsteen but <u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">NONE</u> the Creative Construction Company!</p><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote><b>IMPORTANT NOTICE! </b>After being scolded (however, the shaming part of it didn't work) regarding my continual reference to female mammary glands (as if there are "male" ones but these days who knows?) as "suckems" I will from now on avoid that particular term. Not only on this blog but private conversation in fact! I'm doing this in order to placate the more upper torso conscious of you out there who find the term particularly crude for one reason or another. From now on they will be referred to as "squeezies" which actually received approval from none other cyster herself.<blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote><div>A Batman slaps Robin meme found on The Good Marty that I can heartedly endorse:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgobSdhyjL4YVtaDPoD6uV-ormbVqSuUsWOURITbnHsSJBm1GUHgC5MHb_7UVaPWliFCmBCNhXxcl8mGyLTvOJyw0wcExdczv1q8-iMl7hAo6FmiWyeL0x2h1qqKubl6a0kiTHL0hlVHIkRXV7VcXrTyIYiZTI09BvZyC2U36SFwk7wLur5nAjfzg/s833/Batman%20slaps%20Robin.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="774" data-original-width="833" height="594" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgobSdhyjL4YVtaDPoD6uV-ormbVqSuUsWOURITbnHsSJBm1GUHgC5MHb_7UVaPWliFCmBCNhXxcl8mGyLTvOJyw0wcExdczv1q8-iMl7hAo6FmiWyeL0x2h1qqKubl6a0kiTHL0hlVHIkRXV7VcXrTyIYiZTI09BvZyC2U36SFwk7wLur5nAjfzg/w640-h594/Batman%20slaps%20Robin.png" width="640" /></a></div><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote><div>Anyway lotsa good fire music to rant on about so like let's get into it while the gettin's got, or something like that. Personally I think these reviews are strictly of nosedive quality so if you want to skip 'em until next post (or for that matter skip reading anything that was ever written on this blog!) well, I wouldn't blame ya one bit!</div><div><div><br /></div><div><p></p>
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</div>
<b>Milford Graves with Arthur Doyle and Hugh Glover-CHILDREN OF THE FOREST CD-r
burn (originally on Black Editions Archive Records)</b>
<p></p>
<p>
This is even
<u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">fiercer</u> than
<b>BABI MUSIC</b> or (if you can imagine) <b>ALABAMA FEELING</b>! The Graves/Doyle/Glover trio
once again help stretch those jazz boundaries even more'n my own digestive
tract with a maddening roar that (frankly) puts a whole load of then-contemp
examples of the new thing to utter shame. Doyle's playing so over the top
(about on par with early Frank Lowe) that it's bound to cleanse your soul (that is, if you have one) while Graves clonks out some rhythmic
aberrations that were probably banned by ancient witch doctors for being too
potent. Glover might seem MIA most of the time but he's there (at least on a
good portion of this) adding extra percussion as well as horn toots that seem
to punctuate the proceedings to an even more maddening pitch. Believe me, there's not a thin wafer in the entire shebang! You can download
and burn the thing or buy it on Cee-Dee, but if I were you I'd get the double
LP set and pretend that it's 1980 and you're getting a much anticipated order
that you (like me) really scrimped and saved for from the New Music
Distribution Service.</p><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote><p><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJtrWpDZlFoj8VHOHk9gXtZb81Q9IlrBYbQEtNNJPsKdYhW1XH70TMaoxy6eHM7TyVxT9zHGFeBQWcZ4_NLtfiwRDLC9rR5-akojtZAlhEU0lyWx3bZHkcVIPlNjL_k_3ktE4EgD_7gZexOhlLtfl-mjVEdtZ3Tvuu0NeMpnGLsIBCIcneerNkBA/s562/Mal%202.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="562" data-original-width="561" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJtrWpDZlFoj8VHOHk9gXtZb81Q9IlrBYbQEtNNJPsKdYhW1XH70TMaoxy6eHM7TyVxT9zHGFeBQWcZ4_NLtfiwRDLC9rR5-akojtZAlhEU0lyWx3bZHkcVIPlNjL_k_3ktE4EgD_7gZexOhlLtfl-mjVEdtZ3Tvuu0NeMpnGLsIBCIcneerNkBA/w199-h200/Mal%202.png" width="199" /></a></b></div><b>Mal Waldron-MAL/2 CD-r burn (originally on Prestige Records)</b><p></p><p>After givin' the above a spin this un's almost like listening to Guy Lombardo! Mal and crew (including some names you might have heard about like John Coltrane and Jackie McLean) start preparing for the new thing with a hard bop session that might seem rather tame in comparison with the rage to come, but it suits one (or at least just me) rather fine given how moving and alive this is compared with some of the wine 'n schmooze music that's' getting passed off as jazz these sad 'n sorry times. Made for great backdrop to some sunny highway cruising this very afternoon.</p><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<p><b></b></p>
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</div>
<b>Various Artists- WILD MEN RIDE WILD GUITARS --- ROCKABILLY AND CHICKEN BOP
VOL. 1 CD-r burn (originally on Sundazed Records)</b>
<p></p>
<p>
Thankfully I ain't in one of my fifties rock 'n roll moods or else I would have
been getting even more long-windier than usual about this one. However if I
were feeling long windy I'd be goin' up and down the ol' backroads about these fifties rollickers that sure set the pace for some real rock-a-boppin'
times, the kind Ron Weiser used to rant and rave about in his old
<b>ROLLIN' ROCK</b> fanzine. Other'n a few names I copped outta old
issues of <b>KICKS</b> these acts are whatcha'd call all new to me, but
they sure do fine not only borrowin' heavily from the big time rockers of the
day but takin' them ideas and ricochetin' 'em all over the dadburn place!
Might be a good 'un to play for those know nada types who keep thinkin' that
the fifties music scene was alla that soft croon glop and nothin' more!
</p><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote><p>
</p>
<p><b></b></p>
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</div>
<b>BEATEN BRATS CD-r burn (available for download somewhere online)</b>
<p></p>
<p>
They's be one of them new punk rock groups, one from France at that.
Thankfully not <i>"punque"</i> but still nothing that really reaches out
and touches you like that funny guy in the raincoat who's always lurking
around. It admittedly is strange to hear music like this being played this
late in the game we call agony, and even if this sounds like many other
similar efforts up and about it's still good 'nuff and in no way offensive to
your rather stilted tastes. Or mine either so if you're game then go for the
danged thing!</p><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote><p><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4cb6edvSvlBcn94uUZ7tTF6axlEXUBNBEXgrpyXyVeCXlMIWS6VyLJwF_2TOnPYbTbCVAlNS3TxSGpOgIuD8Ob3H-37mvRup02qqwL5KJ1IB5D-kvttRMfhivm88bFULQ3uNNKmTtxaR5OZJNN-koEheD_UozhPOIm1zhnRH5RgOsEMmlHH_biA/s579/Trouble%20on%20Big%20Beat%20Street.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="577" data-original-width="579" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4cb6edvSvlBcn94uUZ7tTF6axlEXUBNBEXgrpyXyVeCXlMIWS6VyLJwF_2TOnPYbTbCVAlNS3TxSGpOgIuD8Ob3H-37mvRup02qqwL5KJ1IB5D-kvttRMfhivm88bFULQ3uNNKmTtxaR5OZJNN-koEheD_UozhPOIm1zhnRH5RgOsEMmlHH_biA/w200-h199/Trouble%20on%20Big%20Beat%20Street.png" width="200" /></a></b></div><b>Pere Ubu-TROUBLE ON BIG BEAT STREET CD-r burn (originally on Cherry Red Records, England)</b><p></p><p>I dunno 'bout you, but (I think --- too lazy to check out any earlier reviews to refresh my sieve-like brain) I really haven't been cozying up to Ubu in quite some time. One thing I do remember is being irritated by some of those albums the former Crocus Behemoth had released since the stormy days of <b>DUBHOUSING</b> 'n like, hearing a group that once put out some mighty records going south really did make me question some of my earlier twists and turns in rock (and other) music to the point where I wondered why did I even <b><i><u>bother</u></i></b> in the first place?</p><p>But whaddaya know, but Ubu have redeemed themselves by putting out a platter that --- no doubt about it --- hearkens back to the mad miasma of late-sixties/early-seventies rock 'n roll as noise squall, the same swamp from whence everything from those early Plastic Ono albums and <b>MONSTER MOVIE </b>and <b>FUNHOUSE</b> to <b>CROMAGNON</b> and <b>TROUT MASK REPLICA</b> emerged to make a few much-needed switcheroos in the direction that teenbo music was taking. <b>TROUT MASK REPLICA</b> --- yeah, I can see <b>TROUBLE ON BIG BEAT STREET </b>some sorta mod day equal to the Magic Band crunch of the aforementioned squall back when turds like myself would stumble upon <b>LICK MY DECALS OFF</b> more'n curious about what it was all about in typical scrambled adlo brain format.</p><p>And the former Mr. Behemoth can match the ex Mr. Van Vliet in outer realm soul-stretched vocalizing what with his rolling on recitations about meeting up with Howlin' Wolf and Bob Dylan at the local Popeye's! While I'm at it let us welcome Ubu's return to the heavy metal realm with their cover of the Osmonds' classic "Crazy Horses" single. Sheesh, I thought that the Jehovah's Witnesses hated Mormons! </p><p>Hokay, if I hadda say anything negative 'bout it I'd say that the thing was way too long to digest in one sitting. Edited down to about 40 minutes this woulda been a real killer diller deal!</p><p>This is <i>thee</i> creepy-crawl rock 'n roll platter of at least this post (if not the entire year?). The kind of thing we all need here in 2023 to resensify our musical obtuseness and maybe stick around hopin' the movie that we call existence doesn't ignite like so much worn nitrate. </p><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7JO9l9ZCvtf06mZWGF5xKCf-UqTHvWhdrK8KM3t33Ek3yawmddF3OjpQW9FG2kxGxF4_AjhGB6AZYZPtfvT71cP94XQaxZWs7aWbz_wYVFWX5QMCpmcKqsdfhXNibismnRhADWMwNLG-HZC0LeRPxJRIMrcWPzHqDgJICD8hb6WaVlCeACfbk8Q/s800/immortal%20charlie%20parker.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7JO9l9ZCvtf06mZWGF5xKCf-UqTHvWhdrK8KM3t33Ek3yawmddF3OjpQW9FG2kxGxF4_AjhGB6AZYZPtfvT71cP94XQaxZWs7aWbz_wYVFWX5QMCpmcKqsdfhXNibismnRhADWMwNLG-HZC0LeRPxJRIMrcWPzHqDgJICD8hb6WaVlCeACfbk8Q/w200-h200/immortal%20charlie%20parker.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>THE IMMORTAL CHARLIE PARKER CD-r burn (originally on Savoy Records)</b><p></p><p>I know one <b>BTC</b> "associate" who is definitely going to be angry at me for reviewing this, given one of Parker's -- er -- "shortcomings" I'd guess you'd call it. Eh, so what! If I can drive down the highway with Waldron this afternoon I can spend the same evening coaxing myself into beddy bye with these mid-forties Parker sessions featuring some future big names including Miles Davis, Bud Powell, John Lewis and Max Roach getting their jazz bearings in. Like I said many-a-time, this sorta brew isn't exactly the root beer I usually go for but it sure has the nerve-clanging life-reaffirming sway that kinda makes you're glad that you're up and breathing. And there are no gasps here to worry about nosiree!</p><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote><p><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEHs07bES_zkDnEmcnWHc6zR5ZLQG9T3lczYaDMNPeKJOlQ8zxqxcMQgNvCT7dXulfP8Eguq6v3kMeaPTfvENGyJEPWLLAInFgsJvaOEwKN7z1oQVvBLJagHOOiKZzsGHV1w_71wXtM0_NmWUHJbx6Di0yi_wcFTfgP1TKe8IB0IpQ11e3BoJZGg/s559/Wil%20You%20Love%20Me%20Tomorrow.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="532" data-original-width="559" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEHs07bES_zkDnEmcnWHc6zR5ZLQG9T3lczYaDMNPeKJOlQ8zxqxcMQgNvCT7dXulfP8Eguq6v3kMeaPTfvENGyJEPWLLAInFgsJvaOEwKN7z1oQVvBLJagHOOiKZzsGHV1w_71wXtM0_NmWUHJbx6Di0yi_wcFTfgP1TKe8IB0IpQ11e3BoJZGg/w200-h191/Wil%20You%20Love%20Me%20Tomorrow.jpg" width="200" /></a></b></div><b>Various Artists-WILL YOU LOVE ME TOMORROW --- THE GIRL GROUPS OF THE 50's & 60's 2CD-r set (originally on RPM Distribution Records)</b><p></p><p>Unlike a whole slew of girl group collections out there, <b>WILL YOU LOVE ME TOMORROW</b> mixes a scant bit of hit material with loads of obscurities making this more'n just another collection to sell on local tee-vee. The new to mine ears efforts sounded as if they were good enough to hit it big, while the familiar just reminded me of how potent girl vocal groups were for quite a while, well into (and past) the disco era which seemed to ruin too much as far as AM pop went. It woulda been nice if this compilation trekked its way into the early seventies (other'n with the Flirtations' "Nothing But a Heartache") because hey, I woulda loved to have heard the Rock Flowers' "Number Wonderful" again --- sure remember my cyster hating the thing because it sounded more sixties than early-seventies Cat Stevens relevant. Go figure.</p><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote><p></p><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ivnzlOsBvO7_iPt5q4C3jrRJ8r7Sh1lHaRBHXvHK4aTJGSLhx3ViUXPHMIY_eI3gP96Ebm0OPHPvJ3yEuxqhQlk_dXifnrZpu9d7qrqS2ceF7yuB0nCF3JCtG5bcxJlu4KDanBbUuvXcBRjK3CKzn7PYcq9ABDJC5g2if1tQM_YmuqgGMke0BQ/s716/Television's%20Greatest%20Hits.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="706" data-original-width="716" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ivnzlOsBvO7_iPt5q4C3jrRJ8r7Sh1lHaRBHXvHK4aTJGSLhx3ViUXPHMIY_eI3gP96Ebm0OPHPvJ3yEuxqhQlk_dXifnrZpu9d7qrqS2ceF7yuB0nCF3JCtG5bcxJlu4KDanBbUuvXcBRjK3CKzn7PYcq9ABDJC5g2if1tQM_YmuqgGMke0BQ/w200-h198/Television's%20Greatest%20Hits.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Various Artists-TELEVISION'S GREATEST HITS VOL. 1 CD-r burn (originally on TeeVee Toons Records)</b><p>The original material is mostly of echsville sound quality while the re-dos come off even phonier than you. However, if you want a glimpse of what stocking feet plop in front of the tee-vee ranch house living was like for more than a few of us aging guys who never did eschew our fifties/sixties/seventies/(maybe even) eighties suburban slob birthright then look no further.</p><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote><p><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH18VK-mxdgK88vSYtxCmT1ZLuw63hKd8QwFhd3jwjbfHNpbgi2_CvYrDCkJRWiYXrYEc7yMNWFd2K5QRBjpDaXrNRW81bPhymyDKTcZRxLFL0WMRoAQcwXHIX2iqk1AT3caYMAt0sCA8iN8bt4P5N5rDnZQDhRcSBBBxgBzkV_VNUXgwRGa94TQ/s1080/Paris%20Tapes.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1059" data-original-width="1080" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH18VK-mxdgK88vSYtxCmT1ZLuw63hKd8QwFhd3jwjbfHNpbgi2_CvYrDCkJRWiYXrYEc7yMNWFd2K5QRBjpDaXrNRW81bPhymyDKTcZRxLFL0WMRoAQcwXHIX2iqk1AT3caYMAt0sCA8iN8bt4P5N5rDnZQDhRcSBBBxgBzkV_VNUXgwRGa94TQ/w200-h196/Paris%20Tapes.jpg" width="200" /></a></b></div><b>Sun Ra and Arkestra-THE PARIS TAPES CD-r burn</b><p></p><p>You worshippers might find this hard to believe, but I can't tell you much if anything 'bout this particular spinner. All I really can say is that it definitely is a live offering with loads of percussion and occasional wind instruments, and that definitely is June Tyson (and maybe John Gilmore) doing a good portion of the warbling. Skips prove this to have been of vinyl origin and given the flat sound I'd surmise this was some old El Saturn release that easily enough can be identified with an internet search. Still it's a Sun Ra recording so what c'n I say other'n it's good enough to absorb into my own solar plexus.</p><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote><p><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6fZnHfElzFF7kuvxNUPDk8WAy-d4V6ihb1kdzmN05NXNyexI3ZtLaJiVWLT_dEmBL4_ITlGtvPERpq-05C9I-dSxwEA3Jy7jejlrh5rYw_IWzGKi6fMDtnz-7XjCS4wtGEk5ibuhcsmQc-ssEzFJj3iIKxwYyZs7Qg-wMKbkliI-3tQunxcHnvg/s1080/Bright.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="952" data-original-width="1080" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6fZnHfElzFF7kuvxNUPDk8WAy-d4V6ihb1kdzmN05NXNyexI3ZtLaJiVWLT_dEmBL4_ITlGtvPERpq-05C9I-dSxwEA3Jy7jejlrh5rYw_IWzGKi6fMDtnz-7XjCS4wtGEk5ibuhcsmQc-ssEzFJj3iIKxwYyZs7Qg-wMKbkliI-3tQunxcHnvg/w200-h176/Bright.jpg" width="200" /></a></b></div><b>Gerry Bright and the Stokers-YEAH! CD-r burn (originally on Soundflat Records outta England, I think)</b><p></p><p>Thinking I was gonna be in for a middling rehash of mid-sixties hack, I <i>did</i> go into this 'un with a slight bitta trepidation. Surprisingly that all went away once the laser hit the aluminum, for Gerry Bright etc. is one band that really cranks out the six-oh as they used to say at an extremely high energy level. None of that halfway-there dishout --- this thing pumps with Bright's British Invasion-fashioned singing backed up with some heavy duty organ screech and pounding percussion making for some pretty hectic music spinnin' 'round here! Puts much of the retro sounds heard o'er the past thirtysome (if not more!) attempts at reclaiming past glories in the ol' cloud cover. Should be more'n easier to pick up on the internet --- try Bandcamp.</p><blockquote><b>***</b></blockquote>
<p>Nice batch of <a href="https://black2com.blogspot.com/2023/02/what-do-all-these-creatures-have-in.html"><b>BLACK TO COMM </b>back issues</a> I got for you here bud. Hope you can take the hint because like, I got
friends in New Jersey and we know where your aunt lives (boy are these back
issue notifications getting Quinlanesque or what!).</p>
<p></p></div></div>Christopher Stiglianohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17107248034597839482noreply@blogger.com14